Family structure, personality, drinking, smoking and illicit drug use: a study of UK teenagers

Abstract

Data from a survey of 7722 15–16 year old school students in the United Kingdom were used to examine relationships between family structure and using alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Respondents living with both parents were significantly less likely to participate in all of these, with girls more affected, particularly as regards cigarette smoking and illicit drugs. For other families, it made little further difference whether the mother, the father or both were absent. The effects were reduced on controlling four other variables. The latter were: psychological symptoms, social support, involvement in hobbies and reading, and engagement in behaviours such as riding mopeds, going out with friends, aggression and delinquency. It is suggested that these variables may mediate the effects of family structure.