Impact of Gender and Family Processes on Mental Health and Substance Use Issues in a Sample of Court-Involved Female and Male Adolescents

• NCJ Number: 224234
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 37 Issue: 9 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 1071-1084
• Author(s): Stephen M. Gavazzi; Ji-Young Lim; Courtney M. Yarcheck; Jennifer M. Bostic; Scott D. Scheer
• Date Published: October 2008
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A sample of 2,646 court-involved adolescents was used to test 2 competing models regarding links among disruptive family processes, mental health (both emotional and behavioral problems), and substance abuse issues according to gender.

Abstract

The study findings provided general support for a model in which family processes played a central role in adolescent adjustment variables associated with both mental health and substance abuse issues among court-involved males and females. Disrupted family processes accounted for more variance in emotional problems (depression and anxiety) and substance abuse for females; whereas, these same family factors explained more of the variance in behavioral problems for males. The study also found that the relationship between disrupted family processes and substance abuse was not mediated by mental health issues, indicating a lack of support for the alternative model tested in this study. Together, the findings emphasize the primacy of the family’s impact on issues related to adolescent development and well-being, as well as the need for a more gender-sensitive approach to the treatment of court-involved males and females. Study participants were 2,646 adolescents processed in 5 county juvenile courts in Ohio. The sample was composed of 1,009 females and 1,637 males. The majority (52.9 percent) of the sample came from single-parent-headed households. The data-collection instrument used was the 132-item Global Risk Assessment Device (GRAD), an Internet-based measure that assesses potential threats to the numerous developmental needs of adolescents who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. The GRAD contains 11 domains of risk/needs: prior offenses, family/parenting issues, deviant peer relationships, substance abuse, traumatic events, mental health issues, psychopathy, sexual activity and other health-related risks, leisure activities, accountability, and education/work issues. 2 tables, 1 figure, 88 references, and appended items from the GRAD