An Empirical Examination of the Social Bond Theory of Drug Use

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between control theory, measured through a created social bond scale, and the respondents' self-admitted drug use (alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, amphetamines, and barbiturates). An analysis was conducted of self-reported drug use data from a general Texas adult population. This analysis included a series of bivariate cross-comparison correlations between the independent variable (social bond) and the dependent drug variables. The relationship between the independent and dependent variables was further examined by calculating the correlation and level of significance within selected categories of several demographic (age, race, sex, education, income, and marital status) variables. The results showed a significant positive correlation between reduced social bonding and greater drug use. However, while these relationships were significant, they were relatively weak and of little explanatory value. It was concluded that Hirschi's social bond theory fails to provide an adequate explanation for the use of drugs within the framework of this analysis.