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Control Theory and Adolescent Drug Use

NCJ Number
113198
Journal
Youth and Society Volume: 19 Issue: 4 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 395-425
Author(s)
A C Marcos; S J Bahr
Date Published
1988
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Self-reports from 2,626 students in 5 high schools in a southwestern metropolitan area formed the basis of an assessment and refinement of Hirschi's control theory as an explanation of adolescent use of marijuana, amphetamines, and cocaine.
Abstract
Hirschi argues that human conformity rests on the internalization of societal norms and values through attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief in the norms of society. The revised model combined or separated some of Hirschi's components and added a new dimension-inner containment. The students voluntarily completed anonymous questionnaires, which included a question about a fictitious drug to detect overreporting. Only 1.7 percent of the students reported taking it, indicating minimal intentional overreporting. The questionnaire also included items designed to determine the degree of the student's bonding to societal norms. Hirschi's model explained 16 percent of the variation in marijuana use, 11 percent of the variation in amphetamine use, and 6 percent of the variation in cocaine use. The best direct predictors were belief and attachment. The revised model explained 30 percent of the variance in marijuana use, 17 percent of the variance in amphetamine use, and 7 percent of the variance in cocaine use. Overall, inner containment had the strongest direct effects. Findings indicated that social control theory explains marijuana use fairly well but is inadequate as an explanation of amphetamine or cocaine use. Pure control theory is thus incomplete and should be integrated social learning theory. Tables, figures, appended study instrument, note, and 47 references.

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