Correlates of Reported Drug Abuse Problems among College Undergraduates

Abstract

Among 619 students enrolled in freshmen level psychology classes at Southwest Texas State University 13.5 per cent of the males and 4.2 per cent of the females reported that they perceived themselves to have drug abuse problems. Male drug abuse problems were significantly related to perceived maternal emotional problems, parental rejection and angry parents, conflicts with parents, reported physical abuse by a parent, suicidal thoughts, delinquency and feelings of being bored, unappreciated, unrecognized, dependent, unstable and dissatisfied. Female drug abuse problems were significantly related to perceived parental emotional problems, maternal drinking problems, parental depression, parental anger and parental rejection, poor relationship with father, reported physical abuse by a parent, conflicts with and between parents, unhappy childhood, delinquency and feelings of being shaky, bored, unrecognized, troubled, unstable, dissatisfied and unhealthy.