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The Relationship Between Youth Substance Use and Area‐Specific Self‐Esteem
Author(s) -
Emery Eileen M.,
McDermott Robert J.,
Holcomb Derek R.,
Marty Phillip J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1993.tb06126.x
Subject(s) - self esteem , substance use , psychology , substance abuse , clinical psychology , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist
A cross‐sectional survey design investigated the relationship of school and home self‐esteem to history of substance use, membership in alternative education (non‐mainstream) school programs, gender, and race. Self‐esteem was assessed using the Hare Self‐Esteem Scale. Four hundred eleven sixth grade students completed the survey. Results revealed home self‐esteem related inversely to tobacco use (F = 15.39, df = 2,343, p < .0001), alcohol use (F = 12.08, df = 2,343, p < .0001), and use of other drugs (F = 12.28, df = 2,338, p < .0001). Similarly, school self‐esteem related inversely to tobacco use (F = 15.47, df = 2,354, p < .0001), alcohol use (F = 8.74, df = 2,353, p = .0002), and use of other drugs (F = 9.30, df = 2,350, p < .0001). Regardless of type of drug, recent users had the lowest self‐esteem scores on both subscales and never users had the highest scores. Subjects enrolled in non‐mainstream programs had significantly lower home and school self‐esteem scores than did subjects in mainstream classes. Race and gender were not associated significantly with self‐esteem. Implications for youth substance use prevention and research are discussed.