Conduct problems, substance use, and risky sexual behavior have been shown to coexist
among adolescents, which may lead to significant health problems. The current study
was designed to examine relations among these problem behaviors in a community sample
of children at high risk for conduct disorder. A latent growth model of childhood
conduct problems showed a decreasing trend from grades K to 5. During adolescence,
four concurrent conduct problem and substance use trajectory classes were identified
(high conduct problems and high substance use, increasing conduct problems and increasing
substance use, minimal conduct problems and increasing substance use, and minimal
conduct problems and minimal substance use) using a parallel process growth mixture
model. Across all substances (tobacco, binge drinking, and marijuana use), higher
levels of childhood conduct problems during kindergarten predicted a greater probability
of classification into more problematic adolescent trajectory classes relative to
less problematic classes. For tobacco and binge drinking models, increases in childhood
conduct problems over time also predicted a greater probability of classification
into more problematic classes. For all models, individuals classified into more problematic
classes showed higher proportions of early sexual intercourse, infrequent condom use,
receiving money for sexual services, and ever contracting an STD. Specifically, tobacco
use and binge drinking during early adolescence predicted higher levels of sexual
risk taking into late adolescence. Results highlight the importance of studying the
conjoint relations among conduct problems, substance use, and risky sexual behavior
in a unified model.
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