Socialization contexts and illegal drug use among schooled adolescents

• Published in: Intervención psicosocial 2014-03, Vol.23 (1), p.69-78
• Main Authors: Juan Carlos Sánchez-Sosa, María Elena Villarreal-González, María Elena Ávila Guerrero, Alejandro Vera Jimenez, Gonzalo Musitu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1132-0559; 2173-4712
• DOI: 10.5093/in2014a7

The aim of this study was to test an explanatory model about illegal drug use among schooled adolescents. Different types of variables were used, including personal variables (academic self-esteem, social selfesteem and depressive symptoms), family variables (family functioning, father-mother communication), school variables (academic expectations), and social variables (community integration and participation). A sample of 1,285 adolescents, both males and females, aged between 12 and 20 years old, from four different schools in Monterrey, Mexico, was used. A structural equation model was used, explaining 20% of variance. The moderating effect of gender was explored. Results show a significant positive relationship betweencommunity context and illegal drugs use, mediated by social self-esteem only for boys. Likewise, a positive indirect relationship was found between the family context and drug use, mediated by social self-esteem, school self-esteem and academic expectations. Moreover, the family context showed a negative relationship with depressive symptoms, which in turn were related to drug use.