Contributions of Positive and Negative Affect to Adolescent Substance Use: Test of a Bidimensional Model in a Longitudinal Study

Contributions of bidimensional affect measures to adolescent substance (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana) use were measured. Participants (baseline N = 1,702) were surveyed at age 12.4 years and followed longitudinally through age 15.4 years. Multiple regression indicated negative affect related to higher levels of substance use and positive affect related to lower levels of substance use. Buffer interactions indicated that the relationship of negative affect to substance use was reduced among persons with higher positive affect. Clustering analyses indicated 5 different patterns of affect over time; affect patterns were systematically related to change in substance use over time. Structural modeling analysis indicated that relationships of affect to substance use were mediated through coping motives. The findings are discussed with respect to resiliency research and affect-regulation models of substance use.