ERIC ED338960: Substance Abuse among Adolescent Females. Prevention Research Update No. 9.

71 Pages·1991·2.6 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CG 023 774
ED 338 960
Gregory
Bodinger-de Uriarte, Cristina; Austin,
AUTHOR
Females. Prevention
Substance Abuse among Adolescent
TITLE
Research Update No. 9.
Western Center for Drug-Free Schools and
INSTITUTION
Communities.
DC.
Department of Education, Washington,
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PUB DATE
S188A00001
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Reference Materials -
Information Analyses (070) --
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*Females;
*Adolescents; *Alcohol Abuse; *Drug Abuse;
DESCRIPTORS
Smoking; *Substance Abuse
ABSTRACT
about alcohol
This document examines what is known
adolescent females. The first half
and other drug abuse (AODA) among
(1) prevalence and
following topics:
of the document discusses the
drug use among female
patterns of alcohol, tobacco, and other
substance abuse, including
adolescents; (2) correlates and risk of
coping, dating, decision making
age of initiation, appropriateness,
factors, peer pressure,
factors, educational attainment, family
sexual/physical abuse;
(3)
self-concept, sexual behavior, and
including context of use,
prevention and intervention implications,
information, educational
differential effects, dissemination of
resistance skills, risk
attachment, family education, peer pressure,
abuse, sexual behavior,
reduction, self-esteem enhancement, sexual
considerations, and targeting high
stress reduction, drug specific
the document presents lengthy,
risk populations. The second part of
these topics which
detailed abstracts of recent rLsearch studies on
200 references are
have been published in journals. Approximately
listed. (ABL)
***********************************************************w***********
be made
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can
from the original document.
***********************************************************************
Wkvi
estern Regional Center
DRUG-FREE S3HOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
\k_v_
Prevention Research Update
No. 9
Fall 1991
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENT
FEMALES
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BEST COPY AVAILABLE
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Prevention Research Update
Gregory A. Austin, Editor
Southwest Regional Laboratory
Western Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and
Communities
Judith A. Johnson, Di. ector
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
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Portland, OR 97204
[phone]
Field Office
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[phone]
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[phone]
© 1991 NWREL, Portland, Oregon
Permission to reproduce in whole or in part is granted with the stipulation that
the Western
Regional Ccnter for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory, be acknowledged as the source on all copies.
The contents of this publication were developed under Cooperative Agreement
Number
S188A00001 with the U.S. Department of Education. However, the
contents do not necessarily
represent the policy of the Department of Education, and endorsement of the contents by the
federal government should not be assumed.
3
AGit®tYth VpiciDU
PYGIV9Dqltn
no. 9 / Fall 1991
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENT
FEMALES
Cristina Bodinger-de Uriarte, Ph.D.
Southwest Regional Laboratory
Gregory Austin, Ph.D.
Western Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities
Southwest Regional Laboratory
4
Prevention Research Update is a quarterly current awareness service, pre-
pared by the Western Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and
Communities, which summarizes recent research on adolescent drug abuse
and its prevention. Each issue abstracts and reviews the prevention
implications of new research dealing with a major topic of
concern in the
field, placing the new information in the context of past findings. The goal
is to help bridge the communications gap between the researcher, the
practitioner, and the general population, by disseminating research findings
in an accessible manner and providing an introductory review of their
significance. Abstracts are arranged alphabetically by first author's last
Preceding the abstracts is an overview discussion in which
name.
references to abstracted studies are identified by an asterisk (*). References
to all documents cited are located following the abstracts. Copies of the
Updates are available from all the Western Center sites, listed on the last
page of this issue.
About the authors:
Cristina Bodinger-de Uriarte is a Senior Research Associate with the
Southwest Regional Laboratory's Metropolitan Educational Trends and
R"search Outcomes (METRO) Center. Her areas of professional expertise
include qualitative research methods and fieldwork, quantiative methods,
sociology and popular culture, and communications theory and application.
She was an instructor of sociology for the University of Massachusetts,
Harbor Campus. She has a Ph.D. from Harvard University in sociology
and is the managing editor of the American Sociological Association's
journal, Sociological PractLe Review.
Gregory Austin nas been involved in the substance abuse field since 1974
as an historian, information specialist, prevention specialist, and survey
researcher. He served as editor of NIDA's Research Issues Series (1974-
Since 1988, he has been a project director
1979).
at the Southwest
Regional Laboratory (SWRL), managing
an alcohol history project and
various surveys 01.' student substance
use. As part of his responsibilities at
SWRL he is a research and information dissemination specialist for
the
Western Regional Center for Drug-Free Schools and Communities, and
is
editor of the Prevention Research Update series.
CONTENTS
OVERVIEW
1
INTRODUCTION
1
PREVALENCE & PATTERNS
2
Alcohol
3
National Surveys
3
General Population Surveys
3
Student Surveys
4
Regional
Surveys
5
Beverage Preferences
5
Levels of Intoxication
6
Related Problems
7
Tobacco
8
National Surveys
8
Regional
Surveys
8
Other
Drugs
9
National Surveys
10
Marijuana
10
Other Drugs Combined
10
Cocaine
10
Psychotherapeutics/Stimulants
10
Regional
Surveys
11
Summary
12
CORRELATES & RISK
13
Age of Initiation
15
Appropriateness, Social Context, Gender
Role Norms, and Expectations
15
Coping, Stress, & Depression
18
DatinWSociability
19
Decision-making Factors
20
Educational Attachment
21
Family Factors
22
Family Bonds and Management
22
Family Composition
22
Parental Attitude
23
Parental
Use
23
Peer Pressure
24
Self-Concept & Self-Image
25
Sexual Behavior
26
Sexual/Physical Abuse
27
Conclusion
28
PREVENTION & INTERVENTION
IMPLICATIONS
29
Context of Use
31
Differential Effects
32
Dissemination of Information
32
Educational Attachment
32
Family Education
33
Peer Pressure
33
Resistance Skills
33
Risk Reduction
33
Self-Esteem Enhancement
33
Sexual Abuse
34
34
Behavior
Sexual
34
Stress Reduction & Coping Sld lls
34
Drug-Specific Considerations
35
Targeting High Risk Populations
35
Conclusion
37
ABSTRACTS
55
REFERENCES
65
Author Affiliations
OVERVIEW
Most current research on adolescent
INTRODUCTION
alcohol and other drug use does not generally
treat female adolescents as distinct from males.
This Prevention Research
Update
Studies which include both females and males,
examines what is known about alcohol and
in order to draw a sample representative of
other drug abuse (AODA) among adolescent
adolescents as a group, often provide only
Utifortunately, as is true of most
females.
group results without further breaking out
special populations, the knowledge base is
results by gender. Work which specifically
This group has not been
relatively small.
compares adolescent female and male AOD use
studied in any detail in recent years. Although
tends to focus almost exclusively on the
some older studies targeted female adolescents,
relative prevalence of use, age of initiation, and
current work has generally not focused on
patterns of use. Those few studies examining
replicating, refuting, or updating earlier
gender differences in correlates of use and in
findings, nor has it supplied much new
prevention or intervention success tend to look
knowledge. This situation is problematic for
only at differences of degree between females
First, as adolescent drug use
three reasons.
and males, rather than examining female-
became more normalized, other demographic
specific and male-specific correlates or
factors once distinguishing between users and
prevention and intervention needs.
For
nonusers in general (e.g., political orientation,
example, an evaluation study showed DARE to
religiosity, SES) declined in predictive ability
have less of an impact on female than on male
(Bachman, Johnston et al. 1988). Thus, the
However, the
youth (De Jong 1987*).
older studies may no longer reflect the current
evaluation did not include findings on what
This underscores the danger of
situation.
female-specific needs may have been missing
drawing on yesterday's literature for an
which, if incorporated, might increase the
understanding of today's adolescent. Second,
success of the programs for female youths.
indications are that female AOD use, as will be
Such omissions are typical.
Consequently,
seen, has increased. Third, AOD research on
studies tend to ignore the potential importance
adults has revealed differences between female
of the different problems, values, and
and male usz which may pertain to adolescents
behaviors attached to gender differences in
For example, some studies have
as well.
self-concept formation, socialization, and
found that: (1) parttculux forms of tzeatment are
This is problematic as social-
social roles.
less effective for women than for men; (2)
literature on adolescent
psychological
some cormlates of use and abuse axe more
development consistently points to adolescence
significant for adult women than for men; and
as a time of: heightened gender role
(3) motivations to diminish or relinquish
among youth;
differentiation
gender
substance use sometimes differ between adult
differentiated modes of peer relations; dynamic
women and men (Wallen 1990; Rosenbaum
and vulnerable self-concept formation; and
and Murphy 199(; Eisenstadt 1990;Engs 1990;
redefined peer and family relationships.
Ferrence 1980; Wilsnack and Beckman 1984;
Research specifically on substance use
Glynn, Pearson, and Sayers 1983).
Such
among female adolescents tends to target
studies have explored correlates of use of
special subgroups, espe%-ially pregnant or
special significance for women and have begun
delinquent populations. Although providing
to distinguish prevention measures and
valuable insight, the generalizability of such
treatment modes in terms of relative success or
findings to the broader group of adolescent
failure for women, as opposed to men.
females is limited. For example, prevention
However, few of these have included women
and treatment successes among pregnant
below college age.
The possible insights
adolescents may attach to a motivEtion for
provided are thus of untested generalizability to
is no parallel among the
which there
the younger female.
More current studies
nonpregraant population (Gilchrist, Gil lmore,
focusing on ADOA differences between
nd Lohr 1990*; Moss and Hensleigh 1988;
adolescent females and males are needed.
Prevention Research Update 9
increases or decreases in drinking levels may
Similarly, the correlates of
Pletsch
1988).
simply reflect a shift in measures.
significant
substance use and abuse most
Given the limited knowledge about
adolescent females may
among delinquent
it is
substance use among adolescent females,
than to use
speak more to delinquency
to develop a
comprehensive
difficult
delinquency
removed from other acts of
understanding of their specific needs.
Gibbs 1982).
(Dembo, Dertke et a). 1988;
is
Nonetheless, an examination of what
adolescent
Remaining AOD research targeting
extensions
available, supplemented by logical
of use,
females focuses on consequences
adolescents in
of research on adult women and
behavior
typically in terms of female sexual
of:
general, does at least provide indications
Haurin 1988*;
under the influence (Mott and
overall prevalence and patterns of use;
Hardy et
Newcomb and Bent ler 1988a; Zabin,
correlates of use; and issues to be considered
Prevention, intervention, or
1986).
al.
in designing prevention programs.
less attention.
treatment have attracted far
majority-
Conversely, adolescent female
been targeted
PREVALENCE & PATTERNS
minority subgroups have seldom
majority-minority
for research. Findings of
adult women,
subgroup differences among
Some general points around the issue of
highlight
particularly in relation to alcohol use,
prevalence are a necessary preliminary to
of adolescent
the need for similar studies
further discussion. Studies vary in presenting
female AOD use by
majority-minority
comparisons between female and male
Harper 1983;
subgroup (Dawkins and
adolescent AOD use, particularly when
Womble 1990).
Finnegan and McNally 1990;
comparing specific regions rather than national
in
Unfortunately, this represents another gap
samples. Wch of the data is inconsistent:
population studies
current research as general
while Engs and Hanson (1990) cite 6 studies
gender and/or
of adolescents generally provide
which equate college female with male
gender by
ethnic breakdowns, but rarely
in
drinking patterns, they also cite 5 studies
Welte
ethnicity breakdowns (Exceptions are
which female drinking exceeds male drinking.
Dertke, et al. 1988;
and Barnes 1987a; Dembo,
Finally, they conclude that the weight of the
1990). In
Brannock, Schandler, and Om ley
evidence still shows fewer female than male
currently
this review, we summarize what is
drinkers and indicates that females tend to be
in general. A
known about adolescent females
lighter and less frequent drinkers than males,
ethnic
future Update will specifically explore
Our
but that these distances are narrowing.
implications.
subgroup differences and their
replicates this for
survey of the literature
adolescent
Finally, the existing literature on
adolescents, as well as for other drugs, with
problems
females suffers from a number of
the notable exception of cigarettes and
much of the
and limitations characteristic of
amphetamines.
abuse.
literature on subgroup AOD use and
Research reports have traditionally shown
Comparisons of results across studies are
significant differences in the AOD use rates
due to
difficult, as is evaluating trend data,
between adolescent females and males.
sample characteristics,
in
differences
Consensus long has been that fewer females
definitions of terms, measures of drug use,
than males use and abuse substances, and that
(Dawkins 1980;
and types of data analysis
intensity of use increases,
as the frequency or
Trimble, Padilla, and Bell 1987; Mosley,
females are represental in a decreasing
For example,
Atkins, and Klein 1988).
proportions (Glynn, Pearson, and Sayers
according to one popular measure of general
1983; Lettieri and Ludford 1981; Mellinger and
population use, light drinking may include
Baiter 1981; Yamaguchi and Kande! 1984).
annually, whereas another
over 130 drinks
That adult males generally are much more often
popular measure places a ceiiing of less than
and more heavily involved in substance abuse
drinking
50 drinks annually on the light
than adult females is supported by the periodic
moderate drinking
category. The ceilings for
National Household Drug Abuse Surveys
ranging from 144 to
are even more disparate,
(NIDA 1991), However, among adolescents
reporting
660 drinks per annum. Thus articles
the differences have become less pronounced
the current consensus is
across the board, and
2
;1
Substance Abuse Among Adolescent Females
prevalence are the actual female adolescent
that female adolescents are closing the gap for
According to
drinking levels and patterns.
in some cases
a number of substances and
Gail Gleason Milgram (1990), 25% of college
equal and even surpass their male counterparts.
females experience intoxication four or more
Reflecting gender convergence, many
times a month (p.
that
Given
90).
studies find no evidence of adolescent gender
"intoxication is a more accepted outcome of a
differences in regard to use prevalence. For
drinking experience for adolescents than for
example, Hundleby (1987) concluded that
adults," it can bc predicted that a significant
"very few differences between the sexes are
number of adolescent females regularly
and these were small
in
observed
-
become intoxicated (p. 86). As observed by
magnitude." Coombs, Fawzy, and Gerber
441), among
(1980,
Ferrence
1985:
(1986) observed very slight differences among
adolescents, drinking prevalence rates are high
400 children and adolescents (ages 9-17)
but gender differences slight; rates of heavy
surveyed over an 18-month period (1980-
drinking are lower, but gender ratios are high.
1981) in regard to four drug categories:
Indeed, Ferrence (1980) estimates that gender
cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana/hashish, and
ratios of adolescent drinking problems range
Ethnicity and social class also
other drugs.
from 1:5 to 4:0, suggesting to Thompson
seemed relatively unrelated to substance use,
(1989*:30)"that gender is one of the most
which they believe "attests to the remarkable
meaningful variables examined by alcohol
diffusion of behavioral standards and
American society,
Current evidence indicates that
researchet
a
opportunities
in
Ferrence's observation still holds true.
It
phenomenon of considerable historic interest
appears that females consume alcohol
and importance" (p. 911). Similar tesults are
significantly less often and in lesser amounts
reported by Paulson, Coombs, and Richardson
per occasion than males. Gender differences
(1990) and by Newcomb, Maddahian, et al.
in alcchol-related problems, however, are less
1987*.
clear.
This general trend toward convergence in
overall use prevalence rates obscures,
however, important variations in regard to
National Surveys
specific substance and levels of use. Alcohol
remains the drug of choice for high school
In the 1978 followup to the 1974 national
females followed in descending order by
adolescent (grades 10-12) drinking survey,
conducted by Research Triangle Ir- itute
cigarettes, marijuana, and amphetamines.
exception of
the
Furthermore,
with
(RTI), 73% of 12th-grade females and 77% of
males were drinkers. Only 9% of 12th grade-
amphetamines and cigarettes, rates of heavy or
females were classified as heavier drinkers
frequent use are much lower among females
(drank 5 drinks or more at a time at least once a
than males.
week), compared with 21% of males, but
gender differences had declined since 1974
Alcohol
(nachal, Guess et al. 1980; Rachal, Maisto et
al. 1982). An additional 16% were classified
Although surveys tend to place female
as moderate/heavier drinkers, compared to
drinking at a lower proportion than male
that gender
19% of males, indicating
drinking, among adolescents evidence has
differences are most pronounced at the higher
been mounting that female prevalence rates
Reanalysis of this data
levels of use.
have been narrowing and now resemble rates
for males (e.g., Downs 1985; Figueira-
suggested that 25% of females were drunk or
very, very high from drinking at leas: six times
McDonough 1985; Johnston, O'Malley, and
Bachman 1987; Rachal, Guess et al. 1980;
in the preceding year (Thompson and Wilsnack
Murray, Perry et
1987; Newcomb,
al.
1984:39).
Madd2hian et al. 1987*; Pascale, Trucksis,
Data from a representative phone survey of
1,003 teenagers aged 13-18 collected in 1980
and Sylvftster 1985*). A substantial majority
as part of the national Gallup Youth Survey
of adolescent females now indicate that they
revealed that across these ages females were
are drinkers. However, more important than
the narrowing gender gap in alcohol use
less likely than males to be drinkers and were