The Behaviors And Substance Use Among Emerging Adults

The occurrence and interrelation of illegal behaviors and substance use among emerging adults is a complex problem. There has been numerous studies relating to adolescent delinquency and this article explores those patterns of delinquency even further. Specifically, the article examined the ways in which physical abuse experienced during childhood, and peer relationships during adolescence might influence emerging adults patterns of illegal behavior and substance use. The methodology used by the researchers consisted of latent class analysis. â€Å"Studies that aim to explore typologies during a single time point use latent class analysis, which is a person centered analytic technique that identifies the probabilities of behavioral patterns†¦show more content†¦This applied system is in light of the reason that the family and peer relationships an individual secures before entering emerging adulthood will continue to form their behavior as an emerging adult as well as into their adult years. The cycle of violence theory proposes that being a victim of physical abuse elevates an individual’s risk in engaging in illegal behaviors and substance use. When researchers applied this theory they found an association between experiences of physical abuse and future criminal behaviors and substance use during adulthood. Similarly, the social learning theory proposes that demonstrations and reinforcement aid in the process of learning to either participate or refrain from illegal and substance use behaviors. â€Å"In fact, youth who associate with peers who use tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana are more likely to engage in illegal behaviors and substance use (Snyder and Monroe 215).† This study used data from Waves 1 and 3 of Add Health. The study sample included 12,677 respondents who participated in Waves 1,2 and 3 of Add Health data collection. However, the purpose of the study was to address the gaps in the existing literature and to explore patte rns of illegal behaviors and substance use with a national sample of emerging adults. This study focused particularly on