The Decline of Substance Use in Young Adulthood

Preface

This Book and the Earlier Book: Distinctions and Overlaps

Guidelines for Using this Book

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. Introduction and Overview

Observations on Data Quality and Breadth of Generalization

Studying Complex Causal Relationships in Natural Settings

Chapter 2. Literature Review: Conceptual and Empirical Overview of Issues

Young Adulthood

Social Roles

Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors

Conclusions

Chapter 3. Examining Mediating Variables--Sample Characteristics and Analysis Strategies

Sample Characteristics and Representativeness

A Four-Step Analysis Strategy

Additional Panel Analysis Issues and Strategies

Chapter 4. Religious Attendance and Importance

Patterns of Age-Related Change in Religiosity

How Changes in Religiosity Relate to Changes in Substance Use

Analyses Linking Religiosity With Post-High-School Experiences

Summary

Chapter 5. Time Spent on Various Social and Recreational Activities

Patterns of Age-Related Change in Evenings Out and Related Behaviors

How Changes in Evenings Out Are Linked With Changes in Substance Use

How Changes in Other Social-Recreational Behaviors Are Linked With Changes in Substance Use

Analysis Linking Recreational Lifestyle With Post-High-School Experiences

Summary

Chapter 6. Perceived Risks and Disapproval of Smoking, Heavy Drinking, and Illicit Drug Use

Focusing on Views About Specific Substances Rather than Substance Use in General

Patterns of Age-Related Change in Perceived Risks and Disapproval

How Perceived Risks and Disapproval Are Correlated With Substance Use

Analysis Linking Perceived Risks and Disapproval With Post-High-School Experiences

Summary

Chapter 7. Friends' Use of Substances, and Perceived Availability of Illicit Drugs

Patterns of Age-Related Change in (Perceived) Friends' Use of Substances and in Perceived Availability of Illicit Drugs

How Perceptions of Friends' Use Are Correlated With Substance Use

How Perceptions of Availability Are Correlated With Substance Use

Analyses Linking Friends' Use of Substances With Post-High-School Experiences

Analyses Linking Perceptions of Availability With Post-High-School Experiences

Summary

Chapter 8. Putting the Pieces Together--Structural Equation Models

Decisions About Variables, Samples, and Models

Analytic Approach

Findings From the Structural Equation Modeling

Summary

Chapter 9. Summary, Conclusions, and Implications

Conceptual Overview Revisited: Fitting Together All of the Pieces

Impacts of the New Freedoms and New Responsibilities in Young Adulthood

Conclusions and Implications

Concluding Comments on Declining Substance Use in Young Adulthood: Impacts of Social Activities, Roles, and Beliefs

Appendix

Sampling and Data-Collection Procedures

Patterns of Post-High-School Experiences

Multiple Classification Analyses Predicting Changes in Mediating Variables