Adolescent Substance Use and Self-Efficacy: The Role of Risk-Taking in Aspirations for Their Future Roles

Among the many challenges faced by adolescents is the consideration of their future goals, as they must formulate decisions concerning their educational, occupational, and familial goals. Understandably, adolescents need to have confidence in their abilities to function within these future adult statuses. However, adolescence is also a time when many young people begin to experiment with a wide variety of substances (e.g., alcohol, marijuana). Substance use has the potential to affect adolescents’ behaviors, but may also be associated with their perceptions of self-efficacy. Using data from a nationally representative sample of high school seniors, this study examines the linkages between adolescent substance use and their perceived self-efficacy concerning their future roles as workers, spouses, and parents. The analyses demonstrate that, contrary to previous studies of substance use patterns during adolescence, males and females report quite similar patterns of usage, with alcohol being the most commonly used substance. Adolescent females report significantly higher self-efficacy in regard to spousal and parental roles, while adolescent males report higher self-efficacy in worker roles. Among females, factors associated with peers, such as their substance use, are significantly associated with perceptions of self-efficacy. Interestingly, self-efficacy among adolescent males is shown to be significantly influenced by family and parental factors. Higher levels of substance use (including alcohol, marijuana use, and vaping) are shown to detract substantially from adolescent males’ self-efficacy. Among females, alcohol use is similarly shown to be associated with lower self-efficacy, yet the same pattern is not evident in terms of marijuana use and vaping. The patterns of associations between adolescent substance use and self-efficacy are shown to be quite distinct, depending upon the particular substance, as well as the contextual factors linked to peers and families. The findings and implications thereof are discussed within the framework of ecological theory.