Proactive and reactive aggression and substance use among detained youth

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Proactive and reactive functions of aggression have been found to be differentially associated with substance use; however, the pattern of associations differs across substance and outcome assessed. Methods: The current study extends extant literature by examining associations between proactive and reactive functions of aggression and frequency of substance use (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, e-cigarettes, and prescription drugs) 30 days prior to detainment among a sample of justice-involved youth. Further, the moderating effect of behavioral dysregulation on these associations was evaluated. Results: While proactive aggression was positively correlated with past 30-day marijuana and prescription drug use for non-medical purposes, reactive aggression was positively correlated with tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drug use. However, only reactive aggression was uniquely associated with past 30-day use, specifically marijuana and prescription drug use. Further behavioral dysregulation moderated associations, such that reactive aggression was positively associated with frequency of tobacco use and marijuana use, but only at low levels of behavioral dysregulation. Conclusions: Reactive aggression appears to be associated with more frequent substance use than proactive aggression during adolescence. Implications for findings are discussed.