The Association of Adolescent Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior Problems and Prospective Self with Alcohol and Cannabis Use

Adolescent alcohol and cannabis use pose significant developmental risks. This study examined internalizing and externalizing problems as risk factors and prospective self as a protective factor in relation to alcohol and cannabis use. Self-report data were collected from a diverse sample (N = 2017) of 15–17-year-olds using the Youth Self Report (YSR) for behavior issues and prospective self, a factor-derived variable reflecting future orientation, resistance to peer influence, and academic aspirations. Participants reported on 15 health risk behaviors, including alcohol and cannabis use. Weighted linear regressions evaluated associations between risk and protective factors and substance use. Results indicated a higher externalizing behavior was linked to increased alcohol and cannabis use, while a higher prospective self and internalizing behavior were linked to reduced alcohol use. Higher prospective self was associated with less cannabis use. Interaction terms were largely non-significant, except for the interaction between prospective self and internalizing behavior, where higher internalizing problems and high prospective self were linked to increased cannabis use. The findings highlight the importance of prospective self, especially at clinically elevated levels of behavior problems, and recommend further exploration of the unexpected positive associations between internalizing behavior and prospective self with cannabis use.