VALUE DIFFERENCES IN ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSERS AND NONDRUG USERS

• NCJ Number: 19149
• Author(s): C G JENKINS
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 164 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-74-99-1001; NI-73-99-1021
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Arizona State University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DISSERTATION - ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Annotation

THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO IDENTIFY THE VALUE CHARACTERISTICS OF ADOLESCENT DRUG ABUSERS IN TEMPE, ARIZONA.

Abstract

THE VALUES OF SEVENTH AND NINTH GRADE DRUG ABUSERS AND NON-DRUG USERS WERE COMPARED. (DRUG ABUSERS WERE IDENTIFIED BY SELF-REPORT, WHERE THEY HAD INDICATED USE OF DRUGS SIX TIMES OR MORE.) THE CRITERION INSTRUMENT WAS THE ROKEACH VALUE SURVEY,, CONTAINING 36 VALUE TERMS RANK ORDERED BY THE RESPONDENT, RESULTS INDICATED A DIFFERENCE IN THE NINTH GRADE AT THE .001 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR BOTH MALES AND FEMALES. AS A RESULT OF THIS FINDING, RESEARCHERS CONDUCTED A POST HOC ANALYSIS TO IDENTIFY THOSE CLUSTERS OF VALUES THAT BEST DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DRUG ABUSERS AND NON-DRUG USERS. THE CLUSTERS OF VALUE TERMS IDENTIFIED CHARACTERIZED THE DRUG ABUSERS AS HAVING AFFECTION AND SECURITY NEEDS. THIS GROUP ALSO CONSIDERED MATURE LOVE, FAMILY SECURITY, AND EXCITING LIFE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN DID THE NON-DRUG ABUSERS. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT PREVENTION, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS COULD BENEFIT FROM FURTHER RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF ADOLESCENT VALUES. AN EIGHT-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)