The Association between Adolescent Substance Use and Perception of Parental Relationships
by Allison Seitz
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Paige Harden, Graduate Student Advisor: Andrew Grotzinger
Substance use frequently emerges during adolescence, can generate many health concerns, and has the potential to lead to adult pathological substance use. Previous research supports the interplay of genetics and environmental factors in influencing both the degree and the onset of substance use. The household environment, especially parental figures, plays a prominent role in the development of adolescent behaviors, such as substance use. There is an association between perceptions of parental rejection and adolescent alcohol use that is moderated by genetic variability. However, there is a lack of research addressing involvement of genetic factors in both drug and alcohol use in adolescents who have perceptions of positive parental attitudes. The current study will utilize a twin design in order to examine the genetic involvement in adolescent substance use and the effects that adolescents’ perceptions of parental relationships may have in substance use development. I hypothesize that positive perceptions of parental relationships will have a protective effect against substance use in adolescents, while negative perceptions will serve as a high risk factor for adolescent substance use.