Alcohol and tobacco use in relation to emotional development in late adolescence
Additional information
Authors
Russ A.,
Schulz P.
Type
Article in conference proceedings
Year
2025
Language
English
Abstract
Introduction - Alcohol and tobacco use in adolescence remains a major public health concern, with long-term consequences. Late adolescence is a period of emotional development, during which coping strategies and affective responses are still forming. Understanding how emotional development interacts with substance use is essential to inform prevention efforts. This study examines the longitudinal links between emotional coping, affectivity, and alcohol/tobacco use, highlighting the role of emotional functioning in shaping risk trajectories. Methods - Data were drawn from the Swiss TREE panel study (2001-2007). W2(T1), W4(T2), and W6(T3) were selected for availability of key variables. At T1, the sample included 3,440 females (54.2%; Mage=17.82, SD = 0.70), 39.1% held a Federal Diploma. Emotional coping was assessed with four items on a 5-point scale; positive affectivity with five items on a 5-point scale for past-month emotional experiences; alcohol/tobacco use as past-month use on a 5-point scale. A Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model was used to examine reciprocal relations in time, distinguishing within- and between-person effects. Results - Gender predicted (sign.<.001) affectivity and emotional coping: males reported higher positive affectivity and lower emotional coping. Autoregressive paths were significant (sign.range<.001-.003). Significant cross-lagged effects (sign.range<.001-.05) emerged from affectivity and coping (T1) to substance use (T2), and from substance use (T1) to affectivity (T2). From T2 to T3, affectivity predicted both coping and substance use. Discussion - Emotional functioning is linked to substance use patterns across adolescence. Youth with lower positive affect and emotional coping are at increased risk for alcohol and tobacco use. Recognizing how emotional development contributes to alcohol and tobacco use can help shape more effective, emotionally attuned prevention strategies and public messages targeting youth during this sensitive time. Key messages
• Emotional development and coping predict substance use; identifying at-risk youth can improve targeted prevention strategies.
• Prevention efforts should include emotion-focused approaches and teach adaptive coping to reduce adolescent alcohol and tobacco use.
Conference proceedings
OUP - European Journal of Public Health - European Public Health Conference 2025 - Investing for sustainable health and well-being
Numero ( Mese )
4
Meeting name
EPH
Meeting place
Helsinki
Meeting date
2025
Volume
35
ISSN
1101-1262, 1464-360X
Diffusion
License
CC BY-NC
Visibility
Public
Status open access
Gold
