Do Peers and Perceived Risk Mediate the Association of Religiosity With the Likelihood and Extent of Recent Substance Use Among Venezuelan Youth?

Abstract

A robust literature suggests religiosity protects against substance use by youth. Less clear is how religiosity influences substance use. This study uses across-sectional design with a sample of 1,815 Venezuelan youth to examine whether associations with deviant peers or the perceived risk of harm from using drugs mediates the effect of religiosity on both the likelihood of using, and the extent of use of alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs during the past 12 months. Perceived risk mediated the likelihood of using cigarettes and illicit drugs and the extent of alcohol use. It also mediated the unexpected tendency for religiosity to be associated with a greater extent of illicit drug use among users. Deviant peer affiliations mediated the extent of alcohol use and the likelihood of cigarette use. Implications for prevention interventions are presented.