Relationship of Age for Grade and Pubertal Stage to Early Initiation of Substance Use

Details

• Journal Article:
  Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD)
• Personal Author:
  Dudovitz, Rebecca N. ; Chung, Paul J. ; Elliott, Marc N. ; Davies, Susan L. ; Tortolero, Susan ; Baumler, Elizabeth ; Banspach, Stephen W. ; Schuster, Mark A.
• Description:
  Introduction
  
  Studies suggest students who are substantially older than the average age for their grade engage in risky health behaviors, including substance use. However, most studies do not account for the distinct reasons why students are old for their grade (ie, grade retention vs delayed school entry) or for their pubertal stage. Thus, whether the association between age for grade and substance use is confounded by these factors is unknown. We sought to determine whether age, grade, or pubertal stage were associated with early substance use.
  
  Methods
  
  Cross-sectional Healthy Passages Wave I survey data from 5,147 fifth graders and their caregivers in Alabama, California, and Texas from 2004 through 2006 were analyzed in 2014. Logistic regressions examined whether older age for grade, grade retention, delayed school entry, or pubertal stage were associated with use of any substance, cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs.
  
  Results
  
  Seventeen percent of fifth graders reported trying at least 1 substance. Among boys, advanced pubertal stage was associated with increased odds of cigarette, alcohol, or other drug use, whereas delayed school entry was associated with lower odds of any substance, alcohol, or other drug use. Among girls, advanced pubertal stage was associated only with higher odds of alcohol use, and delayed school entry was not associated with substance use. Neither older age for grade or grade retention was independently associated with substance use after controlling for potential confounders.
  
  Conclusion
  
  Advanced pubertal stage may be a more important risk factor for substance use than age for grade. Pediatricians should consider initiating substance use screening earlier for patients with advanced pubertal stage.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Age Of Onset Alcohol Drinking Cross-Sectional Studies Female Health Behavior Humans Logistic Models Male Odds Ratio Original Research Puberty Risk-Taking Risk Factors Substance-Related Disorders

  More +
• Source:
  Prev Chronic Dis. 12.
• DOI:
  http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd12.150234
• ISSN:
  1545-1151
• Pubmed ID:
  26583575
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4655482
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alabama ; California ; Texas
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  12
• Collection(s):
  Preventing Chronic Disease
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0400e3aede71b8ff1e557cfd4b316225b35b1babe86746e26bd331f074b7a7aea49300470905a4d22b20c9f07a723f9ae13d2a9a5d3efbb52593a994fa05c5d3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/36151/cdc_36151_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 329.98 KB ]