Family harmony as a protective factor against adolescent tobacco and alcohol use in Wuhan, China

Purpose. To investigate the association between family harmony (FH) and tobacco and alcohol use (TAU) in Chinese adolescents. Methods. Participants completed a survey in 1998 as part of a larger study of adolescent health in Wuhan, China. Analyses were performed on subjects for whom complete data were available (n = 183; 50.8% male; mean age = 13.17 yrs, std dev = 0.59). Structural equation modeling was utilized to quantify the relationships between the FH, TAU, depression, and academic aptitude factors. Results. The conceptualized structural equation model was found to have a good fit to the data (CFI = 0.995; chi(2) = 39.57 df = 38; p = 40). FH was a significant predictor of TAU (beta = -0.42, p < 0.05) and was protective. FH' was also negatively related to depression (r = -0.24, p < 0.05) and positively related to academic achievement/aptitude (r = 0.35, p < 0.05). Conclusions. These central findings highlight the value and importance placed on FH within the Chinese culture. Future prevention programs may benefit by taking into account FH as a potential mediator of TAU in adolescents in China.