We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.
Religiosity as a Predictor of Adolescents’ Substance Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes
Julie D. Yeterian , Krisanne Bursik , John F. Kelly
Substance Abuse
Vol. 36, Iss. 4, 2015
This study examines religiosity as a predictor of treatment outcomes in an outpatient adolescent sample, with alcohol/other drug problem recognition as a hypothesized moderator. The present study extends current knowledge by (a) examining outcomes longitudinally over a longer period of time than has previously been examined, (b) using a standard outpatient sample, which is the most common type of adolescent SUD treatment, and (c) examining a potential moderator of the relationship between religiosity and outcomes. Results indicated that religiosity predicted reductions in substance-related consequences over time and interacted with problem recognition to predict baseline abstinence. However, it was not a consistent predictor of outcomes (it predicted changes in just one of three examined outcomes) and did not interact with problem recognition to predict changes in outcomes over time, as hypothesized. This suggests that religiosity, which has been found to predict improved outcomes among adults with SUD, may not be as salient to this younger cohort, who are likely to be less religious and less interested in stopping their substance use than their adult counterparts.