Adverse Events and Substance Use Among Female Adolescent Offenders: Effects of Coping and Family Support

Abstract

This study examined a stress-coping model for substance use among female adolescents (N == 305, 69%% African American) involved in the Mississippi juvenile justice system. Participants were interviewed in , regarding exposure to adverse and traumatic events, and they completed self-administered measures of social support from relatives, coping strategies, and questions on frequency of alcohol and other drug use. Results from nested regression models revealed that stressors are associated with drug, but not alcohol use. The use of supportive kinship ties and religion to cope were protective factors. The implications and limitations of the study are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Evénements négative et utilisation de stupéfiant parmi les adolescentes: mécanismes de gestions du stress et support

Cette étude a examiné un modèle d’adaptation au stress de l’usage de substances chez les adolescentes (N == 305, 69%% African American) impliqués dans le système de justice pour mineurs Mississippi. Les participants ont été interrogés en en ce qui concerne l’exposition à des effets indésirables et les événements traumatisants, et ils ont rempli le papier et le crayon de mesures de soutien social de la famille, les stratégies d’adaptation, et questions sur la fréquence de l’alcool et autres stupéfiants. Les résultats de modèles de régression imbriqués révélé que de stress sont associés à la stupéfiant, mais pas d’alcool. A l’inverse, la présence de structures de support familial ou religieux semble avoir un effet protecteur. Les implications et limitations de cette étude sont aussi présentées.

Mot clés: Délinquants juvénile femelles, utilisation d’alcool et de stupéfiants, gestion du stress, support familial

RESUMEN

Acontecimientos Adversos y el Uso de Sustancias entre Mujeres Adolescentes Delincuentes: Efectos del Enfrentamiento y Apoyo

Este estudio examina un modelo de enfrentamiento de estrés para explicar el uso de sustancias entre mujeres adolescentes (N == 305, 69%% de raza negra) involucradas en el sistema judicial juvenil de Mississippi. Las participantes fueron entrevistadas en el en relación a su experiencia en acontecimientos adversos y traumáticos, ellas completaron cuestionarios sobre el apoyo social que recibieron de sus parientes, cuáles fueron sus estrategias de enfrentamiento y respondieron preguntas sobre la frecuencia de su uso de alcohol y drogas. Los resultados de modelos de regresión lineal revelaron que las situaciones estresantes están asociadas con drogas, pero no con el uso de alcohol. El uso de vínculos familiares y religión como apoyo para el enfrentamiento fueron factores protectores. Las implicaciones y limitaciones de éste estudio son discutidas.

Palabras clave: mujeres jóvenes delincuentes, uso de alcohol y drogas, estrategias para enfrentamiento, apoyo familiar

Keywords :

• female juvenile offenders
• alcohol and drug use
• coping strategies
• family support

THE AUTHORS

Angela A. Robertson is a Research Professor at the Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University. She is also an Adjunct Professor for the Department of Sociology, Mississippi State University. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from Mississippi State University. As Coordinator for Research and Development of MASEP, Mississippi's statewide driver improvement program for first-time offenders convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or another substance, she is conducting quality improvement and program evaluation research. Additionally, she has done extensive research on issues of adolescent deviance and health, i.e., delinquency, substance abuse and mental disorders, and STD/HIV risk behavior.

Xiaohe Xu is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio and was Dean's Distinguished Professor of Sociology at Mississippi State University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1994. He has published extensively on marital relationships and adolescents’ behaviors. He has conducted evaluation research for the Early Childhood Institute at Mississippi State University, Barksdale Reading Institute, and the projects founded by the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Andrea Stripling is a second year graduate student in Clinical Psychology at Mississippi State University. She is currently working as a graduate research assistant under Dr. Angela Robertson. Under Dr. Robertson, Andrea conducts research for Mississippi Alcohol and Safety Education Program (MASEP) at the Social Science Research Center. Although she is interested in her research on substance use and addiction, she also enjoys conducting research on finding effective treatments for specific phobias, and other anxiety disorders. She completed her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and worked in Dr. Brad Schmidt's anxiety lab where she became interested in anxiety. Andrea is currently working towards her degree in clinical psychology in order to become a psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders.

Notes

1 The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.