The purpose of this research was to determine whether a selected group of factors are significant when trying to predict the use of alcohol by adolescents who live in rural areas. This research is important because most of the studies concerning drug and alcohol use in adolescents have focused on adolescents who live in urban areas. The results of such studies may not be generalizable to rural populations. The factors investigated included the following: availability of alcohol, peer influence, parental influence, tobacco use, gender, and grade level. These factors were chosen based on their inclusion in four prominent theories regarding adolescent drug and alcohol use. Data were collected for this study in April 1994 in Warren County, a rural county in Kentucky. The responses from 2,3 53 high school students were collected using the Warren County KIDS (Knowledge and Information about Drugs and Substances) Team Survey. The data were analyzed using a chi square analysis. All of the factors were found to be significantly related to alcohol use in rural adolescents. The results of the study revealed that having alcohol available, having peer pressure to use alcohol, having parents who used alcohol or who had permissive attitudes toward alcohol use, using tobacco, being male, and being in higher grades increased the likelihood that adolescents would begin using alcohol.

Drug abuse continues to be one of the most significant problems in the United States today. Attempts to understand drug abuse have produced numerous multidimensional prevention and treatment models. These models have resulted in the identification of psychological, social and biological risk factors related to drug abuse. In this study, the risk for drug abuse was assessed in 311 college students. A questionnaire was developed to measure risk. The questionnaire assessed risk for abuse predicted by the following factors: academic performance, coping and psychological health, religiosity, family and peer drug use, and the individual's past and current drug use. Based on their risk scores students were placed into low, medium, or high risk groups. The participants also completed the Purpose in Life Test and Life Attitude Profile-Revised questionnaire which measured meaning in life. The results indicated that high risk students scored significantly lower on the global and composite scores of meaning in life. Consistent with the theories of Viktor Frankl, a lack of meaning in life and existential vacuum were related to risk for drug abuse. The results of this study suggest that lack of meaning in life may be an important contributing factor to drug abuse. These data suggest that meaning in life is a relevant issue to be considered in the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

Texte remanié de: Doct. diss.--Chicago (Ill.), 1997. / Bibliogr. p. 135-143.

Thesis (M.S.) in Nursing--University of Maine, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-54).

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2009. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.112-125).

Emerging adulthood is a time of significant change where behaviors are adopted that can have significant long term effects on health. The most dramatic increases in weight are occurring among emerging adults, especially those with some college education. Emerging adults are also at an increased risk for substance use and abuse. The current study examined the relationship between BMI and substance use among college students. Participants included 703 undergraduate students at a large public U.S. university (M age=20.6, 58.7% Non-Hispanic White, 59.8% female). Students completed an online survey with items on substance use behaviors such as smoking, alcohol use, marijuana use, and binge drinking. Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana use, and binge drinking were assessed with one question asking students how many days over the past month they had used the specific substance (range 0-30 days). Binge drinking was assessed using one question: “Over the last two weeks, how many times have you had five or more drinks of alcohol at a sitting?” Responses ranged from 0 to 10 or more times. Substance use behaviors were coded to no use/any use in the past month. Body mass index was calculated through the student’s self reported height and weight. BMI was significantly related to past month tobacco use with an odds ratio of 1.06 (95% CI: 1.01-1.12). Specifically, with every one unit increase in BMI, the odds of past month tobacco use increased by 6%. However, BMI was not significantly associated with past month alcohol use, marijuana use, or binge drinking (p>.05). As BMI increases, college students’ odds of using tobacco increase. This finding is particularly problematic given that weight gain is common among undergraduate students and cigarette use has been cited as a common weight management practice among this group as well. Future research should consider the role of BMI as a factor in decreasing tobacco use. / text

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adversity, resiliency and substance use among Manitoba First Nation girls living on reserve, ages 12 to 17 years. Five hundred and fifty girls completed an in person survey of 138 items on a variety of health and well-being issues. The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of substance use is disturbingly high among First Nation girls. A logistic regression analysis determined that age, family discord, and parental substance abuse were all significant predicators of increased substance use among First Nation girls. Family connectedness, visiting and spending time with family were protective against substance use. Surprisingly, high cultural engagement was not protective against substance use in this study, but beliefs in the importance of cultural activities were protective. In conclusion, this study showed that taking a resiliency approach to examine health behaviors among First Nation girls is beneficial and can best inform policies and programs to reduce substance use.

Specific personality characteristics have long been thought to be associated with adolescent substance abusers This study utilized the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI, Millon, 1982) to examine the personality styles, expressed concerns and behavioral correlates of adolescents.The subjects were 122 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 years old who were residents of an adolescent substance abuse treatment center. The MAPI was administered as a part of the initial assessment of each adolescent. The adolescents lived in areas that ranged from rural communities to midsize cities in a midwestern state.In this study, the dependent variable was the MAPI scores and the criterion variables were the following: gender, age, parent marital status, primary drug, secondary drug, drug use, treatment completion, and referral source. Additional subgroups studied were the following: 15-18 year old dependent males according to the primary drugs of alcohol or marijuana, and 15-18 year old females according to the primary drugs of alcohol and marijuana.Median base rate scores were calculated for the groups to reveal general personality profiles. Multivarite analyses of variance produced significant univariate Fs in the following groups: gender, parent marital status, and 15-18 year old dependent females by primary drug of choice. Results indicated that, as a whole, the group appeared to be fairly homogeneous in the personality characteristics revealed by the MAPI scores. The characteristics found mostoften in this sample were the following: moods that were unpredictable and erractic; attitudes that vacillated rapidly from unhappy to happy; relationships that ranged from ambiguous to belligerant, and affect that was irritable to disturbed. These adolescents also expressed considerable concern over family relationship issues. The Family Rapport scale was consistently the highest Expressed Concern scale. Other scales that were less pronounced, but frequently elevated were personal esteem, self-concept, and academic confidence. The most prominent elevation on the Behavioral Correlate scales was the Impulse Control scale.Similarities across groups on the scores of the MAPI scales was the most prominent finding. Scale scores in 15-18 year old dependent females group showed differences between alcohol users and marijuana users. Implications for treatment were discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between adversity, resiliency and substance use among Manitoba First Nation girls living on reserve, ages 12 to 17 years. Five hundred and fifty girls completed an in person survey of 138 items on a variety of health and well-being issues. The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of substance use is disturbingly high among First Nation girls. A logistic regression analysis determined that age, family discord, and parental substance abuse were all significant predicators of increased substance use among First Nation girls. Family connectedness, visiting and spending time with family were protective against substance use. Surprisingly, high cultural engagement was not protective against substance use in this study, but beliefs in the importance of cultural activities were protective. In conclusion, this study showed that taking a resiliency approach to examine health behaviors among First Nation girls is beneficial and can best inform policies and programs to reduce substance use.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-69).