Third, we expect that the course (or rate of change) of pathway markers and the overall level of these markers are important in predicting the level of risk that youth face for Negative Affect SUDs. Specifically, we posit that an accelerated progression along this pathway (i.e., faster escalations in internalizing symptoms, earlier onset of substance use, more rapid development of coping motives and expectancies) will interact with overall levels of pathway markers (i.e., high levels of internalizing symptoms, substance use and coping motives and expectancies) to predict greater risk for Negative Affect SUDs.
