International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy
  

Volume 11 Num. 1 - March 2011

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Relation between Substance Use and Depression among Spanish Adolescents

Volume 11 Num. 1 - March 2011 - Pages 79-90

Authors:

Jos? P. Espada , Steve Sussman , Tania B. Huedo Medina , Jos? P. Alfonso

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis in relation to the existence of depressive symptoms in a school sample of adolescents. The incidental sample (N= 707) was composed by students from 1st to 4th year of high school (mean age= 14 years old). Univariate and multivariate predictive models were established by logistic regression analysis. Depressive symptoms were higher among tobacco users (OR= 0.93, 95% CI 0.90-0.95), alcohol users (OR= 0.94, 95% CI 0.92-0.96) and cannabis users (OR= 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.98), without affecting the frequency of consumption. The results suggest the coexistence of factors of substance use and depressive symptoms. High scores in depression are associated with the consumption of tobacco and alcohol but not to cannabis use. For all the evaluated substances, depression is a variable linked to any use but not for the frequency of use. The role of depressive symptoms as a factor related to substance use of and its implications in the development of preventive programs are discussed.

Key words:

adolescence, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, depression, risk factors.

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