title: Factors related to the self-concept of institutionalized, white, male, adolescent drug abusers.
abstract: The main purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between selected drug-related, familial, and demographic variables and the self-concepts of institutionalized, white, male, adolescent drug abusers in a large midwestern city. In addition, the self-concepts of the subjects in the study were compared with the self-concepts of Pulliam et al.'s (1971) non-drug using adolescent sample. The TSCS, a family questionnaire, an index of socioeconomic status, and an interview were used to collect data from 140 subjects. The mean self-concept score of this sample was significantly lower than the mean self-concept score of Pulliam et al.'s sample. Results of a stepwise multiple regression yielded four statistically significant predictors of the subjects' self-concepts: both mother/adolescent relationship and father/adolescent relationship when the adolescent was between age thirteen and his present age; the number of the subject's prior status offenses and the subject's preference for non-depressant drugs. These variables were positively correlated with the subjects' self-concepts. This study demonstrated the importance of differentiating among institutionalized adolescents' self-concepts based on type of drug abused, prior criminal record, and parent/adolescent relationships.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006213:Hallucinogens; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010553:Personality Development; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D006213:Hallucinogens