There is a need to understand how the joint development of externalizing and internalizing behaviors is related to substance use, particularly among historically understudied and often disadvantaged populations. Latent class models were used to estimate patterns of externalizing behaviors and internalizing behaviors in the form of depressive and anxious symptoms from age 6 to 14 among 390 Black and Hispanic youth. Then, growth curve models of substance use between the ages of 15 and 19 were estimated as a function of joint latent class membership. Only elevated levels of externalizing behaviors were associated with higher levels of substance use through age 18. Internalizing behaviors appeared to serve as a protective factor among those with moderate displays of externalizing behavior only. Additionally, growth in substance use from ages 15 to 19 was slower among those who displayed the highest level of externalizing behaviors, and internalizing behaviors appeared to moderate growth (and serve as protective factor) among those who displayed moderate levels of externalizing behaviors. The findings underscore the importance of pattern profiles based on observations of the joint development of problem behaviors to assess risk for substance use, particularly in understudied populations where risk/protective factors may operate in a unique manner.

有必要了解外化和内化行为的共同发展如何与物质使用相关，特别是在历史上未被充分研究且往往处于不利地位的人群中。潜在类别模型用于估计 390 名黑人和西班牙裔青年 6 至 14 岁的抑郁和焦虑症状形式的外化行为和内化行为模式。然后，将 15 至 19 岁之间物质使用的增长曲线模型估计为联合潜在类别成员的函数。在 18 岁之前，只有较高水平的外化行为与较高水平的物质使用相关。内化行为似乎只是那些表现出中度外化行为的人的保护因素。此外，在表现出最高水平外化行为的人中，从 15 岁到 19 岁的物质使用增长较慢，而在表现出中等水平外化行为的人中，内化行为似乎适度增长（并作为保护因素）。研究结果强调了基于对问题行为共同发展的观察来评估物质使用风险的模式配置文件的重要性，特别是在风险/保护因素可能以独特方式运作的未充分研究的人群中。