Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 3-19-2009

Journal / Book Title

Journal of Drug Education

Abstract

The use of illicit and licit drugs continues to be a major public health concern. Many prevention and drug education programs address this issue by attempting to enhance self-esteem. The idea is that increased levels of self-esteem will serve as a protective factor in decreasing the motivation and increasing the resistance to use drugs. This study explored the relationship between area specific self-esteem and adolescent substance use. Participants (n = 700) completed a self-report questionnaire which included items measuring the use and expected use of selected substances. Results indicated significant differences in home and school self-esteem scores between users/expected users and non-users of a given substance for all 14 behavioral measures. Additionally, the peer, home, and school sub-scales as a set were found to distinguish between users and non-users for all 14 behavioral measures. Results should be of value to those designing prevention programming.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2190/DE.38.4.f

Published Citation

Donnelly, Joseph, Michael Young, Rebecca Pearson, Tina M. Penhollow, and Aida Hernandez. "Area specific self-esteem, values, and adolescent substance use." Journal of Drug Education 38, no. 4 (2008): 389-403. Harvard

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