Adolescent Work Values and Drug Use in Adulthood: A Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study.

Background

Personal values have been considered as a predictor of drug use.

Methods

We examined the association between work values in adolescence and drug use in adulthood using 23-year longitudinal data from the Youth Development Study.

Results

Partial extrinsic and intrinsic work values predicted cannabis use in the past year after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and alcohol and tobacco use at baseline. A part of intrinsic work values was negatively associated with illicit drug use in the past year.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that some personal values might influence future drug use. Investigating the association between personal values and subsequent drug use through personal value theory and self-determination theory could help to understand risk and preventive factors in drug use.