Exploring the Relationship Between Youth Information Behavior, Substance Use, and Substance Use Expectancies - A Pilot Study.

A substantial body of research has explored the relationship between passive information seeking and youths’ beliefs about and use of substances. To date, however, little work has explored other dimensions of youth information behavior (such as active information seeking, information needs, and information use) and substance use. The aim of this study was to pilot the use of an information behavior scale in order to examine the association between youth information behavior and self-reported substance use, as well as use-related expectancies. Youth 12–17 years of age (N = 446) across eight U. S. states completed self-report measures of their information behavior and their use of and expectancies regarding the following: cigarettes; electronic vapor products; chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, or snus; cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars; alcohol; and marijuana. Regression models were conducted to examine the relationship between information behavior, substance use, and substance use expectancies. Results indicated that information behavior was associated with expectancies for tobacco and vaping products, but not for alcohol or marijuana. There was no significant association between information behavior and actual substance use. Results have implications for the development and implementation of both information behavior measures and substance use prevention programs.