The Difference between Adolescent Users and Non-Users of Addictive Substances in a Low Socio-Economic Status Community: Contextual Factors Explored from the Perspective of Subjective Wellbeing

Abstract

We aimed to explore the differences between adolescents from a low socio-economic Cape Town community who used addictive substances, and those who did not, with regard to subjective well-being. The Kidscreen52 was used to measure subjective wellbeing in a sample of 179 Grade 10 and 11 learners; 41.3% of the sample was male. Thirty-five percent of the adolescents reported to be substance users, with significantly more males reporting substance use than females in both grades. Scores on four of the sub-scales were significantly different for the substance users and non-users (namely, Feelings, General mood, Family and home life, School and learning). A post hoc analysis indicated that males and females differed significantly on General mood, but that this difference did not interact with substance use.