ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE USE AND CODEPENDENCE

This research evaluated the extent to which parental codependence was associated with adolescent substance use and other adolescent problem behaviors. The sample was comprised of 293 adolescents and their parents who were interviewed by trained intake workers. Using LISREL modeling, we found that the number of adolescent problem behaviors was associated with parental persecuting, suffering, and rescuing behaviors. Net of problem behaviors, adolescent substance use was associated with parental suffering but not with parental persecution or rescuing. As expected, there was a strong association between adolescent problem behaviors and substance use. The associations of substance use and problem behaviors with codependence were not moderated by religious preference or by being a member of a religion that teaches abstinence.