Risk factors for early use of e-cigarettes and alcohol: Dimensions and profiles of temperament.

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the relationship between early use of e-cigarettes and alcohol by adolescents and their temperamental profiles. The study utilizes data from a longitudinal adolescent substance use study and employs the methodological "best practice" of multi-informant ratings of adolescent temperament. The results highlight the importance of considering temperamental profiles in understanding substance use behaviors among adolescents.

Key Points:

* The study sample consisted of adolescent/caregiver dyads (N = 264) who completed the first two timepoints of a longitudinal adolescent substance use study.
* adolescent temperament was assessed using the Early adolescent Temperament questionnaire Revised Short Form (EaTq-R) child- and parent-report versions.
* Substance use was measured using dichotomous variables assessing lifetime use of each substance previous to T1 and use since T1.
* Path models and latent profile analysis (LPa) were used to examine dimensions and profiles of temperament as potential predictors of early e-cigarette and alcohol use.
* Three temperamental profiles were identified from parent-reported data, including Reserved, Resilient, and Undercontrolled.
* Two temperamental profiles were identified from adolescent-reported data, including Mixed-type and average.
* The Resilient profile was found to be protective against alcohol use among the present sample, while the Mixed-type profile was associated with a markedly increased likelihood of alcohol use.
* The study highlights the importance of considering temperamental profiles in understanding substance use behaviors among adolescents.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the significance of temperamental profiles in understanding the relationship between adolescent substance use and temperament. The results suggest that specific temperamental profiles, such as the Resilient profile, may be protective against substance use, while others, such as the Mixed-type profile, may increase the likelihood of substance use. These findings underscore the importance of considering individual differences in temperament when developing preventative programming for adolescent substance use.

hartmann Sa, hayes T, Sutherland MT, Trucco EM. Risk factors for early use of e-cigarettes and alcohol: Dimensions and profiles of temperament. Development and psychopathology. 2023;35(2):481-493. doi:10.1017/S0954579421001565