Family Harmony as a Protective Factor Against Adolescent Tobacco and Alcohol Use in Wuhan, China.
Document Type
Article
Department
Community and Global Health (CGU)
Publication Date
4-2003
Disciplines
Family, Life Course, and Society | International Public Health | Public Health | Substance Abuse and Addiction
Abstract
To investigate the association between family harmony (FH) and tobacco and alcohol use (TAU) in Chinese adolescents. METHODS: Participants completed a survey in 1998 as part of a larger study of adolescent health in Wuhan, China. Analyses were performed on subjects for whom complete data were available (n = 183; 50.8% male; mean age = 13.17 yrs, std dev = 0.59). Structural equation modeling was utilized to quantify the relationships between the FH, TAU, depression, and academic aptitude factors. RESULTS: The conceptualized structural equation model was found to have a good fit to the data (CFI = 0.995; χ2 = 39.57, df = 38; p = 40). FH was a significant predictor of TAU (β = -0.42, p<0.05) and was protective. FH' was also negatively related to depression (r = -0.24, p<0.05) and positively related to academic achievement/aptitude (r = 0.35, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These central findings highlight the value and importance placed on FH within the Chinese culture. Future prevention programs may benefit by taking into account FH as a potential mediator of TAU in adolescents in China.
Rights Information
© 2003 Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
Recommended Citation
Trinidad, D. R., Chou, C-P., Unger, J. B., Johnson, C. A., & Li, Y. Family harmony as a protective factor against adolescent tobacco and alcohol use in Wuhan, China. Subst Use Misuse, 38(8), 1159-1171, 2003.
