The Role of Future Orientation and Self-determination on American Indian Adolescents' Intentions to Use Alcohol and Marijuana

Substance use (SU) rates among American Indian (AI) adolescents have been greater than national rates for decades, with little progress made on reducing them. Reasons for this may include lack of evidence on which to base effective interventions, the uniqueness of this population, and the overall lack of attention that this population has received in reducing socioeconomic and health disparities. Moreover, there has been limited focus on understanding how positive individual characteristics may serve as protective factors for AI adolescents. Using data from 379 AI youth living on or near four northern plains reservations, the current study examines the relationship between future orientation (FO) and self-determination (SD) and intentions to use alcohol and marijuana, with negative consequences of SU for future goals and autonomy evaluated as potential mediators. SEM models were estimated for alcohol use and marijuana use intentions, with two separate models for each dependent variable-one assessing the direct and indirect effects of FO via perceived consequences for future goals and the other assessing the effects of SD via perceived consequences for autonomy. All models displayed good fit, but the pattern of significant effects varied by substance, by construct (FO vs. SD), and by gender. Findings suggested that SD, and more proximally, perceived consequences of use for autonomy, may be particularly useful promotive factors to target SU prevention in AI adolescents. Culturally congruent interventions designed to promote SD and autonomous motivations to abstain may be particularly impactful within a young AI adolescent population, as early adolescence represents a critical period of development for personal autonomy and identity.