Date of Award

Winter 2011

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Family Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Corinna Jenkins Tucker

Abstract

Data from the Coos county youth survey is used to examine new media use habits and explore the relationship between new media use and substance use among two cohorts of rural youth (N = 657). Specifically, I present descriptive information on new media usage, examine whether new media use is related to substance use and explore a possible moderation relationship between substance use and negative substance-use-related behavioral outcomes. Older adolescents reported more new media use than younger adolescents but there was no evidence of sex differences in usage. Greater new media use was found to be related to greater substance use, but not negative substance-userelated behavioral outcomes. This could reflect increased communication with family members and positive peer groups, often considered a protective factor against substance use. Finally, new media use did not moderate the relationship between substance use and negative substance-use-related behavioral outcomes.

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