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Social Resiliency Factors and Abstinence from Substance Abuse in Lucas County, Ohio Adolescents

Waterfield, Elizabeth Ann

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Counselor Education.

Adolescent alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is a serious problem in the United States which often results in grave consequences to individuals and society. Research into adolescent AOD use has traditionally focused on identifying risk factors that may aid in identifying youth in need of intervention and/or treatment for AOD problems. The resiliency perspective has developed as an alternative to the risk-factor orientation to research and intervention in adolescent AOD use. Researchers using the resiliency approach aim to provide insight into why many adolescents, despite exposure to multiple risk-factors, do not use substances. Examples of social resiliency factors proposed to be protective of adolescent AOD include volunteering, sports, religious, arts, and civic activities. Advantages of the resiliency approach have included simultaneous consideration of both risk and protective factors, examination of how multiple systems interact to affect young people, and efficacy in proactively preventing AOD use in adolescent versus addressing problems after they have been initiated.

The purpose of this study was to identify social resiliency factors that may predict abstinence from the use of AOD in students attending Lucas County, Ohio, schools in grades 10 through 12 utilizing data from the 2006 Lucas County (Ohio) Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ADAS) Board Youth Alcohol & Other Drug Use Survey. The specific resiliency factors examined were participation in sports or athletic activities, arts or civic activities, religious activities, volunteering or community activities, and alcohol or drug prevention clubs. The drugs of abuse examined include tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. A Chi square analysis was employed to examine if each resiliency activity (independent variables) was predictive of abstinence from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use (dependent variables). Results supported previous research indicating that sports and athletic activities may be somewhat protective against use of cigarettes, but not for alcohol, especially in males. Significant results were found for females for arts and civic activities, religious activities, and volunteering and community activities. However, results for males for each of these resiliency factors were negative, with the exception of religious activity and marijuana. Significance for participation in drug and alcohol prevention clubs was not found for any group or substance. Differences in independent variable measurement issues may be factors in the lack of consistency in results. Non-participation in several of the resiliency activities was found to be associated with substance use, especially in females.

Nick Piazza, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
John Laux, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Wendy Cochrane, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Morris Jenkins, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
119 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Waterfield, E. A. (2010). Social Resiliency Factors and Abstinence from Substance Abuse in Lucas County, Ohio Adolescents [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271347020

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Waterfield, Elizabeth. Social Resiliency Factors and Abstinence from Substance Abuse in Lucas County, Ohio Adolescents. 2010. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271347020.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Waterfield, Elizabeth. "Social Resiliency Factors and Abstinence from Substance Abuse in Lucas County, Ohio Adolescents." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1271347020

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)