Contextos de socialización y consumo de drogas ilegales en adolescentes escolarizados

Abstract

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 between community 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. © 2014 Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid.