 General strain theory and the development of stressors and substance use over time: An empirical examinationLee Ann Slocum Journal of Criminal Justice, 2010, vol. 38, issue 6, 1100-1112 Abstract: Little research has examined whether General Strain Theory (GST) can account for continuity in illicit behavior over their time. The current study fills this void by testing the ability of GST to account for the association between adolescent and adult substance use. Four mechanisms that Agnew argues lead to behavioral continuity--a direct effect of negative emotionality and low constraint on substance use, evocative and active selection, passive selection, and stressor amplification--are examined using structural equation modeling. Drawing from the broader stress literature, an additional pathway--stress proliferation--is also tested. This research uses two unique datasets, which together provide information on the lives of high risk individuals from birth through adulthood. Support for GST explanations of continuity is mixed. The direct and moderating effects of negative emotionality and low constraint as well as the more dynamic aspects of the stress process, like proliferation and amplification, received the most empirical support. It is argued that more attention should be directed to exploring the social processes through which stressors develop over time. Date: 2010 Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:38:y::i:6:p:1100-1112 Access Statistics for this article Journal of Criminal Justice is currently edited by Matthew DeLisi More articles in Journal of Criminal Justice from Elsevier |
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