This study aims to examine whether having a family member with mental illness is associated with stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use in adolescents. Additionally, we aim to investigate...Show moreThis study aims to examine whether having a family member with mental illness is associated with stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use in adolescents. Additionally, we aim to investigate whether stress mediates the relationship between having a mentally ill family member and adolescent substance use. A health monitor (N = 14,878) was conducted by Public Health Services North and East Gelderland (GGD NEG) from October 2019 until December 2019 among 2nd and 4th year high school students. The target group, adolescents with a mentally ill family member (n = 1,683), was compared to the control group, adolescents without a mentally ill family member (n = 12,842). The target group had a mean (± SD) age of 14.5 (1.3) years, 59% was female, 42.6% was highly educated and 33.5% was religious. The control group had a mean (± SD) age of 14.2 (1.2), 51% was female, 46.7% was highly educated and 32% was religious. Stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use were measured by means of a self-report questionnaire. An ANCOVA, controlling for age, gender and educational level and a mediation analysis were performed. The results showed that the target group scored higher on stress, alcohol use, drug use and substance use than the control group. In addition, stress mediated the relation between adolescents having a family member with mental illness and substance use. However, effect sizes were small. We recommend further research on this topic considering stress and substance use could have adverse effect on overall health and well-being.Show less
