This study of over 1,000 adolescents focused on common and distinctive correlates of four
subgroups—no problem, depressed only, heavy drinking only, and mixed (depressed and
heavy drinking). Correlates were evaluated from the domains of personal dispositions (e.g.,
temperament), interpersonal relations (e.g., parent and peer), stressful life events, and other
problem behaviors (e.g., delinquency, substance use). The no-problem subgroup differed from
the other three subgroups in the direction of healthier functioning on almost all measures. The
mixed subgroup reported the most pervasive, low levels of functioning, with the highest levels of
childhood externalizing problems and stressful life events, the lowest levels of family social
support, and high levels of delinquency and substance use. The depressed-only subgroup reported
a more internalized pattern characterized by childhood avoidance problems, a difficult
temperament (e.g., inflexibility, withdrawal, low task orientation), interpersonal stressors, and
poor coping strategies. The heavy-drinking-only subgroup was characterized by higher drinking
levels by primary caregivers and lower levels of family cohesion as reported by primary
caregivers. The 1-year prospective findings were generally consistent with the concurrent
findings in that variables that were associated with transitions toward and away from depression
and heavy drinking were associated with specific transitions (e.g., childhood externalizing
problems were associated with the transition from no problem to heavy drinking).
Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use
