Evidence for linkages between child and adolescent internalizing difficulties and cannabis problem use received some limited support in these analyses. Rather than contributing to substance use problems, early adolescent internalizing problems were found to reduce increases in late adolescent CAD symptoms, as well as externalizing problems. These relations are similar to the braking influence of internalizing symptomatology on externalizing difficulties observed in the current study during childhood. The more restricted contribution of internalizing difficulties to substance use is consistent with the more equivocal role for internalizing pathology in substance abuse during the adolescent period of development. Contrary to expectations, an association between late childhood social competence and cannabis use problems also was not supported. It may be that the influence of social difficulties and rejection by peers, and the development of relations with deviant peers in adolescence on substance involvement is accounted for more directly and fully by child externalizing problems. However, a very interesting significant path was found between diminished late childhood social competence and increases in late adolescent externalizing problems. This effect is above and beyond the influence
