Problem-Behavior Theory and the Explanation of Adolescent Marijuana Use

Abstract

Problem-Behavior Theory was developed by Richard Jessor and Shirley Jessor almost 30 years ago. The theory is a social-psychological framework focused on the explanation of variation in adolescents' involvement in behaviors that are socially defined as a problem and as undesirable by the norms of conventional society and that elicit some form of social sanctions. Problem behaviors of interest have included underage drinking, problem drinking, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, delinquent behavior, and precocious sexual behavior. Research conducted in the 1970s demonstrated that the theory could account for approximately 50% of the variance in marijuana use in both local and national sample studies. The present analyses sought to determine whether the theory continues to be relevant for the explanation of illicit drug use among contemporary American youth. Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of multiple datasets collected over a 20-year period confirm its enduring validity.