Monitoring the Future is a long-term program of research being conducted at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research under a series of investigator-initiated research grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Now in its 33rd year, the study is comprised of several ongoing series of annual surveys of nationally…

To explore costs and benefits of part-time work for high school students, survey responses of high school seniors from the classes of 1980 through 1984 were examined, distinguishing between those working many hours, those working fewer hours, and those not employed. Because hours of work differed by sex and by college plans, most analyses…

Study examines differences in adolescents' use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs by racial and ethnic groups. Results show significant differences by racial and ethnic groups, and indicate that these differences have changed over time. Future research should examine these differences and seek to identify the sources and consequences of the…

The high school portion of the "Monitoring the Future Study" is presented. Since 1975, this national survey has helped to quantify, track, characterize, and explain changes in drug prevalence, attitudes, and behaviors among American high school students. Data are reported in graphs and statistical tables for eighth, tenth, and twelfth…

This document reports findings from data collected from large nationally representative samples of high school seniors in the classes of 1985-1989 as part of the Monitoring the Future project. Its primary focus is on the possible costs and benefits of part-time work among high school seniors. The focus of the report is on three psychosocial…

Moving from high school into young adulthood is a critical developmental transition, a time of both continuity and discontinuity in health and well-being. How well one negotiates this transition, as evidenced by one's course of well-being and substance use, depends in part on historical cohort, gender, and life-path. Using U.S. national panel data…

This paper summarizes an investigation of a specific set of findings from the Monitoring the Future project, an annual survey of the attitudes and values of high school seniors that has occurred since 1975. The findings investigated relate to indicators of anxiety among these students about the threat of nuclear war. The study developed two…

This report discusses the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Project in relation to trends in military propensity and the relationship between propensity and enlistment. The findings show that the military propensities of most young people are firmly formed by the end of high school, especially among men. Substantial majorities of…

In 2005, the Monitoring the Future study marked its 31st year of conducting national surveys of substance use among American young people. Beginning with the first survey of high school seniors in 1975, the study has provided the nation with a window through which to view the important, but largely hidden, problem behaviors of illicit drug use,…

High school seniors completed questionnaires measuring work intensity, or amount of time spent at work, and several behaviors and attitudes. Found correlations between work intensity and problem behaviors. These correlations were diminished, but not eliminated, when indicators of demographic background and educational success were controlled for.…

Based on large-scale surveys of high school seniors in the classes of 1975 through 1984, this paper presents findings which have a bearing on the quality of life of young people. Most seniors planned and hoped for marriage, children, and material well-being; however, the last few graduating classes showed increased concern about attaining those…

The Monitoring the Future project was created to assess the changing lifestyles, values, and preferences of American youth on a continuing basis. Trends in marijuana use and related attitudes were investigated, and alternative hypotheses about the linkage between attitudes and behaviors were examined. Data were obtained using questionnaires…

During the past decade there have been several important trends in drug use. Cigarette use peaked in 1976 and 1977 and declined thereafter. Marijuana use rose through 1978 and 1979 and then began to decline. Cocaine use rose until 1981 and has remained constant since. This study examined findings from 12 nationwide surveys representing the high…

The Monitoring the Future study surveys high school seniors annually. Data from a special survey of high school seniors (N=1,050) conducted in 1978 designed to complement the annual Monitoring the Future survey were compared to data from the 1978 Monitoring the Future survey of approximately 18,000 high school seniors. Means and correlations were…

Examined are the environmental attitudes of United States high school senior classes of 1976-1979. Multi-item indices of concern about pollution, overpopulation, energy conservation, other people, and the importance of material things were administered to about 17,000 students in approximately 130 high schools each year. The four classes of…