Original scientific paper
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS AND ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Andreja BRAJŠA-ŽGANEC
Zora RABOTEG-ŠARIĆ
Renata GLAVAK
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between some family
variables and cigarette, alcohol and drug abuse. Differences
between adolescent boys and adolescent girls, according to the
family variables used, were also researched. The sample
included 1 258 boys and 1 538 girls from all areas of Croatia.
The adolescents described their family structures, the degree of
family cohesion, parental social support, and family interaction
(family activities and leisure time spent with family). They also
described their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs during their
lives. The results show that, when compared to adolescents from
single parent families, both boys and girls whose parents are
married feel that they receive more parental social support.
While adolescent boys do not make a distinction in their
evaluation of family cohesion, adolescent girls whose parents
are married evaluate family cohesion better than adolescent
girls from single parent families. The family interaction scale
showed a statistically significant difference only for the boy
sample, on the subscale of leisure time spent with family.
Stepwise regression analyses were conducted on both adolescent
boy and adolescent girl samples with three types of
substance abuse (cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs) as criterion
variables, and four subscales of family functioning as predictors.
Family variables are related to adolescent cigarette, alcohol and
drug use, but predictive factors vary according to the gender of
the participant. The results are discussed in relation to different
socialization patterns of adolescent boys and adolescent girls.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
19691
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2002.
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