Sibling Coping Provision, Negative Life Events, and Substance Use

Objective This study examined sibling coping provision as a moderator between negative life events and emerging adult substance use. Background Greater frequency of negative life events can increase substance use in emerging adulthood. As siblings often use their relationship to cope with stress, the ways in which emerging adults interact with their younger siblings (i.e., coping provision) may correspond to their coping abilities. Thus, we examined how emerging adult coping with younger siblings modulated the association between their negative life events and the frequency of substance use. Method In a cross‐sectional sample of emerging adults ( N = 478, m age = 20.69), the moderating role of supportive and negative coping provision with younger siblings was examined between negative life events and alcohol, cannabis, and health risk substance use behaviors. Results Higher frequency of negative life events was associated with greater substance use for all substances, while negative sibling coping provision was associated with more alcohol and health risk substance use. Negative and supportive coping provision served to moderate the effect between negative life events and cannabis use, with less negative and more supportive coping provision serving as risk factors for cannabis use. Meanwhile, greater supportive coping provision buffered the effect between negative life events and health risk substances. Conclusion Emerging adult responses to siblings' stress can influence their own ability to manage stress, with negative and supportive sibling coping provision serving to uniquely influence substance use. Implications Understanding sibling responses to stress disclosure may inform how emerging adults cope with stress and their substance usage.