Adolescence is a critical period of vulnerability to substance use. Recent research has shown that gender differences in adolescence substance use are complex and in constant flux. The present study aims to investigate gender differences in substance use and initiation patterns in male and female adolescents, and to assess individual, family, peer, and school associated factors of these patterns. We applied latent class regression analysis to a Portuguese representative population sample of 1551 15-year-old adolescents, drawn from the 2010 ‘Health Behavior in School-Aged Children’ survey, to characterise different profiles of substance use and initiation for boys and girls, and to identify factors associated with latent class membership, stratifying the associations analysis by gender. Three common classes were found for both genders, specifically, Non-Users (boys [B] 34.42%, girls [G] 26.79%), Alcohol Experimenters (B 38.79%, G 43.98%) and Alcohol and Tobacco Frequent Users (B 21.31%, G 10.36%), with two additional unique classes: Alcohol Experimenters and Tobacco Users in girls (18.87%), and Early Initiation and Poly-Substance Users in boys (5.48%). Poor school satisfaction, bullying, fighting and higher family affluence scale score formed a common core of associated factors of substance use, although we found gender differences in these associations. In girls, but not in boys, family factors were associated with more problematic substance use. Not living with both parents was associated with girl’s Alcohol and Tobacco Frequent Users (gATFU) class (OR 3.78 CI 1.18–12.11) and Alcohol Experimenters and Tobacco Users (AETU) class (OR 3.22 CI 1.4–7.44). Poor communication with mother was also associated with gATFU class membership (OR 3.82 CI 1.26–11.53) and AETU class (OR 3.66 CI 1.99–6.75). Additionally, a higher psychological symptoms score was associated with gATFU class membership (OR 1.16 CI 1.02–1.31). Although we found common patterns and associated factors between boys and girls, we report two unique patterns of substance use in boys and girls and specific associations between family, school and peers, and individual factors with these patterns. These findings underscore the need for substance use prevention and health promotion programmes that address potential differences in substance use patterns and associated factors.

中文翻译：

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15 岁葡萄牙青少年的性别特定物质使用模式以及与个人、家庭、同伴和学校因素的关联：潜在类别回归分析

青春期是容易滥用药物的关键时期。最近的研究表明，青春期物质使用的性别差异是复杂的并且不断变化。本研究旨在调查男性和女性青少年物质使用和起始模式的性别差异，并评估这些模式的个人、家庭、同伴和学校相关因素。我们对 1551 名 15 岁青少年的葡萄牙代表性人口样本（取自 2010 年“学龄儿童健康行为”调查）应用了潜在类别回归分析，以描述男孩和女孩物质使用和开始的不同情况。并确定与潜在阶级成员资格相关的因素，按性别对关联分析进行分层。两性都发现了三个共同的类别，具体来说，非使用者（男孩[B] 34.42％，女孩[G] 26.79％），酒精实验者（B 38.79％，G 43.98％）以及酒精和烟草经常使用者（B 21.31） %，G 10.36%），还有两个额外的独特类别：女孩中的酒精实验者和烟草使用者（18.87%），以及男孩中的早期启蒙者和多种物质使用者（5.48%）。学校满意度差、欺凌、打架和较高的家庭富裕量表分数构成了物质使用相关因素的共同核心，尽管我们发现这些关联存在性别差异。在女孩中，家庭因素与更严重的药物滥用相关，但在男孩中则不然。不与父母同住与女孩的酒精和烟草频繁使用者 (gATFU) 类别 (OR 3.78 CI 1.18–12.11) 和酒精实验者和烟草使用者 (AETU) 类别 (OR 3.22 CI 1.4–7.44) 相关。与母亲沟通不良也与 gATFU 类成员资格（OR 3.82 CI 1.26–11.53）和 AETU 类成员资格（OR 3.66 CI 1.99–6.75）相关。此外，较高的心理症状评分与 gATFU 类别成员资格相关（OR 1.16 CI 1.02–1.31）。尽管我们发现了男孩和女孩之间的共同模式和相关因素，但我们报告了男孩和女孩两种独特的物质使用模式，以及家庭、学校和同龄人之间的特定关联，以及与这些模式相关的个人因素。这些发现强调需要制定药物使用预防和健康促进计划，以解决药物使用模式和相关因素的潜在差异。