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. 2017;26(2):162-173.
doi: 10.1080/1067828X.2016.1242100. Epub 2016 Nov 30.

Gender Differences in Patterns of Substance Use and Delinquency: A Latent Transition Analysis

Charlotte Lyn Bright  1 , Paul Sacco  1 , Karen M Kolivoski  1 , Laura M Stapleton  2 , Hyun-Jin Jun  1 , Darnell Morris-Compton  3
Affiliations

Gender Differences in Patterns of Substance Use and Delinquency: A Latent Transition Analysis

Charlotte Lyn Bright et al. J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse. 2017.

Abstract

This study explores gender-specific patterns and transitions of adolescent substance use and delinquency in a sample of youths at ages 12, 15, and 18 (N = 803). Latent transition analysis identified "Primary Delinquent," "Delinquency and Substance Use," and "Low Risk" classes. Females were less likely to be in the "Primary Delinquent" class at age 12 than males. From 15 to 18, females were approximately equally likely to transition from "Primary Delinquent" to both other classes, whereas males were more likely to transition from "Primary Delinquent" to "Delinquency and Substance Use." These gender differences in behavior can inform services.

Keywords: adolescence; delinquency; gender; substance use.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Latent class probabilities by class status.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean latent class and transition probabilities by gender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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