What about the boys: adolescent male victims of violence, substance use, and the moderating effect of religious involvement
Date
2010
Authors
Nepute, Jeff, author
Dik, Bryan J. (Bryan Jay), advisor
Swaim, Randall C., committee member
Miller, Lisa Ann, committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Research has shown that abuse and neglect are linked to negative outcomes in later adolescence and adulthood, such as alcohol use and marijuana use. This study examines a previously collected data set of adolescents across the United States to investigate the extent to which being violently victimized predicted increased alcohol use, drunkenness, and marijuana use across two age groups; and the extent to which these relationships varied across level of rurality or level of religious involvement. Results revealed that victimization significantly predicted increased alcohol use, drunkenness, and marijuana use among both 7th/8th graders and 11th/12th graders. These relationships did not vary by level of rurality. Religious involvement significantly decreased the magnitude of the relationship between victimization and alcohol use, drunkenness, and marijuana use in the 7th/8th grade group. In the older age group, it significantly decreased the relationship between victimization and marijuana use. Overall, results suggest that victimization and substance use are significantly related and this relationship does not vary by level of rurality, but that religious involvement may be a protective factor against substance use. Results further suggest that it is important to screen for victimization among adolescent males in therapy for substance abuse and that religious involvement may be an aspect that can help adolescent male victims of violence cope with their victimization without using substances.
Description
Rights Access
Subject
victims of violent crime
Substance abuse -- Religious aspects
victimization
Teenage boys -- Substance abuse
adolescent
Teenage boys -- Violence against
religious involvement
Teenage boys -- Religious life
masculinity
male