Naslov
Perceived Parental Acceptance-Rejection, Family-Related Factors, and Socio-Economic Status of Families of Adolescent Heroin Addicts

Autori
Glavak, Renata ; Kuterovac Jagodić, Gordana ; Sakoman, Slavko

Izvornik
Croatian Medical Journal (0353-9504) 44 (2003), 2; 199-206

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
adolescence; family relations; heroin; parent-child relations; social class; substance-related disorders

Sažetak
Aim. To compare adolescent heroin addicts and non-addicts with respect to their perceived parental acceptance and rejection, family factors (structure of the family, parents&#8217; marital status, and psychopathological disorders in the family), socio-economic status, and subjective appraisal of their family relations. Methods. Fifty-two heroin addicts aged between 17 and 21, were compared with a group of 52 non-addicts of the same age. The comparison group was selected from an ad-hoc sample of high-school juniors and seniors and first- and second-year university students. Only participants who reported never to have taken any drugs were selected for the group of non-addicts. The perceived parental behavior of mothers and fathers was assessed by the 32-item version of Rohner&#8217; s Parental Acceptance-rejection Questionnaire. Three other questionnaires were constructed to collect information on family factors, socio-economic status, subjective appraisal of family relations, and drug usage. Results. The addicts perceived their mothers as more rejecting (p=0.018 for total score), more aggressive (p=0.007), and showing more undifferentiated rejection (p=0.001) than non-addicts. The addicts perceived their fathers as more rejecting then their mothers (p=0.002 for total score), less warm and accepting (p<0.001), and more neglecting (p=0.001). In comparison with non-addicts, the addicts evaluated the relationships with their mothers (p=0.001) and general satisfaction with their families (p=0.021) as poorer. Adolescent addicts mostly came from intact families. In the addicts&#8217; primary families (mother, father, and siblings), there was significantly higher incidence of addiction (p=0.041), schizophrenia (p=0.022), and suicide or attempted suicide (p=0.012). Addicts&#8217; families belonged to higher income groups then non-addicts (p=0.021). Addicts&#8217; fathers were on average less educated than non-addicts&#8217; fathers (p=0.040) ; typically to a high school level. The education level of addicts&#8217; mothers was similar to that of non-addicts&#8217; mothers (p=0.091), typically they were educated to a high school level. Conclusion. The results of this research indicate the importance of parental rearing practices, especially mothers&#8217; , on adolescent drug abuse and addiction. As addicts perceived their mothers as more rejecting than non-addicts, mothers&#8217; rejection could be one of the major risk factors for developing drug addiction.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Psihologija

POVEZANOST RADA