NCJ Number
170854
Journal
Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 27 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1998) Pages: 59-81
Date Published
1998
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Bonding in parent, peer, and school domains were compared in a general sample of juveniles and a sample of juveniles of methadone-treated parents.
Abstract
This comparison study obtained data from two research projects, each using informed consent procedures. Subjects in the two projects were similar in age and responded to similar questions about attachment and drug use. One project collected data from a sample of children of parents in methadone treatment, and the other collected data from a general sample of children from the public schools in the same city. Bivariate comparisons showed that children of methadone-treated parents had lower socioeconomic status and were significantly more likely to smoke cigarettes, but not more likely to drink alcohol. Several measures of attachment were significantly different between the two samples across parent, peer, and school domains. Multivariate analyses showed that the children of methadone-treated parents were more likely to smoke, even after accounting for the effects of demographic and attachment variables. For drinking, sample membership was not found to be significant. Attachment to school decreased the odds of both smoking and drinking in both samples. Peer attachment had no effect on the odds of smoking initiation; however, loyalty to best friend did predict increased odds of drinking initiation. 6 tables and 25 references