Psychosocial Stressors of Drug-Abusing Disadvantaged Adolescent Mothers

• NCJ Number: 169537
• Journal: Adolescence Volume: 32 Issue: 125 Dated: (Spring 1997) Pages: 93-100
• Author(s): F A Scafidi; T Field; M Prodromidis; E Rahdert
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA06900
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered to 55 disadvantaged adolescent mothers who abused drugs during pregnancy and 49 non-drug-abusing disadvantaged adolescent mothers to determine any differences in psychosocial stressors between the two groups.

Abstract

Findings suggest that the drug-abusing mothers were depressed (BDI=14), and the non-drug-abusing mothers were nondepressed (BDI=6). In addition, the drug-abusing mothers reported more mental and physical health problems, more problematic family and peer relationships, poorer social skills, more aggressive behavior, less constructive use of leisure time, and a lower educational and vocational status than did non-drug- abusing adolescent mothers. A multiple regression analysis of POSIT scales showed that the best predictors of drug abuse during pregnancy were mental health status, leisure and recreational activities, and peer relationships. Identification of specific problem areas is essential for developing additional assessment strategies and individualized intervention plans for preventing drug abuse in pregnant adolescents. The POSIT, a comprehensive screening instrument designed to evaluate potential problem areas for the teenager, is a useful screening instrument both for identifying problem areas and identifying pregnant adolescents who are at risk for drug abuse. 2 tables and 21 references