An extension of Jessor and Jessor's problem behavior theory from marijuana to cigarette use.

Abstract

Results of a survey of nearly 5,000 high school seniors were analyzed to apply Jessor and Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory and Kandel's legal-illegal distinction in drug use to cigarette and marijuana smoking. The findings support the utility of conceptualizing cigarette use as a problem behavior within Problem Behavior Theory in that the patterning of cigarette correlates was functionally similar to that of marijuana. However, the degree of peer support for use was considerably greater for marijuana than for cigarettes, supporting Kandel's legal-illegal drug distinction. The additional explained variance in marijuana use in the current study attests to the importance of utilizing respondents' standards and perceived standards of reference sources in research on social influences on mood-altering substances among youth.