The protective role of regulatory and parental self-efficacy in substance use in Colombian adolescents

Given the rates of illegal substance use, that have shown a decrease on the onset age (UNODC, 2018), and the association between substance use and mental and physical health during the development (Hall et al., 2016), the present study aimed to explore the role of Children and Parental Self Efficacy on substance use in Colombian adolescents. One of the priority goals of Colombian Government is the contrast of early first contact with psychoactive substances, as well as the contrast of subsequent development of dependence (Minsalud, 2017). The present study explored the association among Children Regulatory Self-Efficacy (CRSE), Parental self-efficacy (PSE), Children Rule Breaking (CRB) and substance use in Colombian adolescents. The sample included 570 adolescents (58% male; M age =13, DS=1,07) and 450 parents from the cities of Medellín and Santa Marta. Substance use was evaluated using 4-item about the use frequency of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs (Elliot et al.,1985). CRSE was measured using 2-item of the scale developed by Pastorelli and Picconi (2001) (α=.50). PSE was measured using 8-item of the scale developed by Pastorelli and Gerbino (2001) (α=.87). Finally, CRB has been measured using 15-item of the Youth Self-Report (YSR; Achenbach,1991). Correlational analysis evidenced significant associations among the study variables. Furthermore, separately by cities, hierarchical regression model with (step 1) age, (step 2) CRB, (step 3) CRSE, and (step 4) PSE showed a different contribution of the study variables on explaining adolescents’ substance use. Specifically, in Medellín, both CRB and PSE contributed to the explanation of substance use (R 2 =.25). Differently, in Santa Marta, emerged the unique role of CRSE on the explanation of substance use (R 2 =.06). These findings corroborate the protective role of self-efficacy in counteracting problem behaviors in adolescence and inform about the differences that living in different contexts (Medellin and Santa Marta) have on adolescents’ development.