Influence of an Africentric Worldview and Demographic Variables on Drug Knowledge, Attitudes, and Use Among African American Youth

• NCJ Number: 174428
• Journal: Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 25 Issue: 5 Dated: September 1997 Pages: 421-433
• Author(s): F Z Belgrave; T G Townsend; V R Cherry; D M Cunningham
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 1800; 6617
• Sponsoring Agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Admin (SAMHSA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Because alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use is associated with major problems in inner cities, especially for black youth, and Africentric values may be a protective factor in negative drug outcomes, this study was conducted to examine the influence of Africentric values, spirituality, and demographic variables on drug knowledge, attitudes, and use.

Abstract

Study participants included 189 4th and 5th graders attending public schools in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. Data on measures of Africentric values (collective work/responsibility, cooperative economics, and self- determination), spirituality, age, and whether the child resided in a one- or two-parent household were obtained. Results of regression analyses indicated collective work/responsibility and cooperative economics were significant predictors of attitudes toward drugs. Collective work/responsibility and spirituality were significant predictors of perceived drug harmfulness, while age and spirituality were significant predictors of drug use. Age was the only significant predictor of drug knowledge. Collective work/responsibility was the strongest predictor of drug outcomes. Implications of the findings for using Africentric drug prevention approaches to decrease risk factors and to increase protective factors for drug use among black youth are discussed. 18 references and 4 tables