Differences in family risk factors of drug use in adolescent girls and boys

Adolescence is a critical period for the initiation of drug use, which is associated with many risk factors, including family-related ones. Given the importance of the family as an agent in the socialization process, it is essential to examine which factors in this area deserve the most attention, as well as whether there are gender differences in this process. This study aimed to examine 30 family-related risk factors associated with drug use, as well as to analyse gender differences between male and female adolescents. The data were collected from a representative sample of 1,287 high school students from Belgrade (average age = 17.04, standard deviation = 1.147), of whom 52.5% were girls. The participants completed an anonymous self-assessment questionnaire during school hours, with the assistance of the school psychologist. Drug use was defined as the use of cannabinoids, depressants, stimulants, or hallucinogens either very rarely, occasionally, or when the need arises. Family-related risk factors were reported by participants using a checklist that included 30 experiences identified in relevant literature as risk factors associated with the family context. Canonical discriminant analysis was applied separately to the samples of boys and girls, resulting in two statistically significant discriminant functions. In the sample of boys, this function was defined by seven family-related variables, six of which served as predictors of differences between drug users and non-users. In the sample of girls, thirteen factors influenced the differences between those who had used drugs and those who had not. The only common risk factors for both genders were: frequent arguments with parents, poor communication with family members, and attempts to run away from home. The research results have shown that there are differences in the number and nature of family-related risk factors for drug use between boys and girls. These differences are significant for prevention practices and must be taken into account when designing prevention programs, if we want those programs to be effective.