Earlier violent television exposure and later drug dependence

Abstract

This research examined the longitudinal pathways from earlier violent television exposure to later drug dependence. African American and Puerto Rican adolescents were interviewed during three points in time (n = 463). Exposure to violent television programs in late adolescence predicted exposure to violent television programs in young adulthood, which in turn was related to tobacco/marijuana use, nicotine dependence, and later drug dependence. Some policy and clinical implications suggest regulating the times when violent television programs are broadcast, creating developmentally targeted prevention/treatment programs, and recognizing that watching violent television programs may serve as a cue regarding increased susceptibility to nicotine and drug dependence.

Figure 1. The Hypothesized Pathways of the Model

Notes: T2= Time 2; mean age = 19.1 T3= Time 3; mean age = 24.4 T4= Time 4; mean age = 26

Figure 2. The Empirical Pathways of the Model (GFI = 0.94)

Notes: * p<0.05 ** p<0.01 *** p<0.001 T2= Time 2; mean age = 19.1 T3= Time 3; mean age = 24.4 T4= Time 4; mean age = 26.1 Number in parenthesis refers to the t value There was a non-significant pathway between tobacco/marijuana use at T3 and drug dependence at T4(β = 0.77, t = 10.22, p < .001)