• 217-1 FH - An Examination of Parent Child Relationships and Teen Substance Use
  Presented by: Alina Margaret Baltazar, Brianna Johnson, Duane Calvin McBride, Gary Hopkins, Sara Pepper, Curt VanderWaal

• 217-2 FH - The Influence of Personality Traits on Adolescent Smoking Initiation
  Presented by: Mary Frances Richmond

• 217-3 FH - The Role of Child Maltreatment and Trauma in Adolescent Relationships
  Presented by: Sun Young Yoon

• 217-4 FH - Young Adult Drinking Partnerships: Where are Couples 6 Years Later?
  Presented by: Jacquelyn D Wiersma, Judith L Fischer, Bethany Bray, Joseph Paul Clifton

Abstracts

An Examination of Parent Child Relationships and Teen Substance Use

Presented by: Alina Margaret Baltazar, Brianna Johnson, Duane Calvin McBride, Gary Hopkins, Sara Pepper, Curt VanderWaal

Alcohol, tobacco, inhalant, and marijuana use were determined by the respondent's self-reported use within their lifetime.  Parental Relationships were measured by the respondents' feelings related their relationship with their parents.  The hypothesis that high-quality parent-child relationshps was inversely correlated with teen substance use was supported as was the hypothesis that poor parent-child relationshps would be positively correlated with substance use.  Thus parent education programs and family therapy that improve the parent-child relationship may protect against inhalant ue and abuse.

The Influence of Personality Traits on Adolescent Smoking Initiation

Presented by: Mary Frances Richmond

A leading preventable cause of death is cigarette smoking. Adolescent cigarette smoking constitutes a serious public health concern because most smokers begin smoking as adolescents, and the younger the individual's age of initiation, the harder it is to quit smoking. It has been observed that certain personality traits of adolescents can possibly put adolescents at risk of smoking initiation, while other personality traits may serve as protective factors against cigarette smoking initiation. A model has been developed to show possible relationships between the personality styles of True Colors, Inc., and personality traits of adolescents with regard to cigarette smoking initiation.

The Role of Child Maltreatment and Trauma in Adolescent Relationships

Presented by: Sun Young Yoon

About 3 million children are annually referred to local child protective service agencies as possible victims of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. Emerging research has demonstrated that youth with a history of maltreatment are in particular at risk for interpersonal difficulties. Late adolescence is an important period to initiate and develop intimate relationships, and, for maltreated youth, this developmental process is affected by traumatic incidences that interfere with their ability to form healthy relationships. This study has examined, using a nationally representative sample, the processes by which child maltreatment influences youth relationships over time.

Young Adult Drinking Partnerships: Where are Couples 6 Years Later?

Presented by: Jacquelyn D Wiersma, Judith L Fischer, Bethany Bray, Joseph Paul Clifton

The present study examines how young adult drinking partnerships (ages 18-26) are associated with later consequences in adult relationships (ages 26-35). Previous research has found that couples who consume alcohol have a higher risk of problems, such as alcohol-related consequences and abuse, and relationship dissolution. This study used Add Health data (Waves III, IV) to assess young adult drinking partnerships (N=1348) using cluster analysis. Four clusters were found: heavy and discrepant drinking partnerships were more likely to experience relationship dissolution, alcohol-related consequences and abuse 6 years later as compared to less heavy and congruent drinking partnerships.