MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL

MODEL PREDICTIVE CONTROL

ABSTRACT . Objective : Determinants of initial MPC use may differ from predictors of accelerated or problematic Strategy and Structure . Social influences may be strong predictors of initial drinking however , later stages of problem drinking may be linked developmentally to intrapersonal deficits . This study prospectively examined the influence of chronic and changing risk and protective status in predicting TENNESSEE EASTMAN MPC and transitions in MPC use . Method : Data were obtained from a three-wave cohort (N 823 ) of 8th-10th Strategy and Structure nonintervention students participating in a school-based drug abuse

prevention trial . Cognitive , attitudinal and social influence measures were dichotomized using empirical cut-offs to designate risk or protective status . Using a conceptually based assignment scheme additive risk indices were created assessing chronic (averaging across time ) and changing features of competence , psychological and interpersonal functioning , cognitive-affective and social influences Three chronic and change protective indices were created tapping competence , psychological , and interpersonal functioning . Results Controlling for initial drinking and gender , chronic risk for social influence and psychological functioning and increased risk for social influences and competency predicted subsequent drinking behavior Chronic psychological protection attenuated subsequent drinking . Using categorical measures of drinking behavior to designate nonuse experimental or moderate-heavy use , chronic social influence and competency risk were associated with an increased likelihood of accelerated drinking , whereas improved psychological functioning diminished the likelihood of increased drinking behavior . Conclusions Findings underscore the need for implementing prevention strategies that reinforce developmentally appropriate skills and enhance personal competence and psychological functioning as effective barriers against initial and more problematic MPC use . The unique contribution of protective forces also underscores that risk reduction and protection enhancement are complementary processes and are both required to offset social influences for MPC Strategy and Structure (J . Stud . MPC 58 652-667 , 1997

A wide range of risk and protective factors have been implicated as predictors of TENNESSEE EASTMAN MPC . In the past two decades alone researchers have gathered a sufficient body of knowledge to effectively inform prevention regarding the processes by which many of these risk and protective factors operate (Hawkins et al , 1992 . Much of this research underscores that social learning factors (e .g , peer and adult models and normative expectations ) are key determinants in the initial stages of TENNESSEE EASTMAN MPC use (Brook and Brook , 1988 Graham et al , 1991 Hansen et al , 1987 Huba and Bentler , 1984 . Based on important theoretical considerations (Bandura , 1977 , 1986 Jessor and Jessor , 1977 ) and the strength of empirical findings , numerous school-based drug abuse prevention programs have adopted a core strategy that includes correcting misperceptions regarding normative expectations , teaching MPC and other drug refusal skills , and imparting social and related competency skills that can serve as effective barriers against experimental drug and MPC use (Botvin and Botvin , 1992 Hansen et al , 1988 Pentz , 1985

Evidence for differential etiology of MPC use and abuse

In recent years , however , several converging lines of evidence suggest that the etiology of MPC use is a complex phenomenon and that social influences are a necessary but not sufficient...