Family management risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use in South Africa
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RESEARCH
Open Access
Family management risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use in South Africa Beatrice Wamuyu Muchiri* and Monika M. L. dos Santos
Abstract Background: An increasingly recognised prevention approach for substance use entails a reduction in risk factors, and the enhancement of promotive, or protective factors in individuals and the environment surrounding them during their growth and development. Methods: This exploratory study evaluated the effect of potential risk and protective factors associated with family management relating to adolescent substance use in South Africa. Exploratory analysis and cumulative odds ordinal logistic regression modelling was performed on the data, while controlling for the influence of demographic and socio-economic characteristics on adolescent substance use. Results: The most frequently used substances were cannabis, followed by other illicit substances and alcohol in decreasing order of use intensity. The specific protective, or risk effect of family management factors, varied according to substance. Risk factors associated with demographic and socio-economic factors included being male, of a younger age, lower education grades, of a coloured ethnicity, adolescents from divorced parents, and unemployed or fully employed mothers. Several family management factors, categorised as parental monitoring, discipline, behavioural control and rewards, demonstrated either risk or protective effects on adolescent substance use. Conclusions: This exploratory study demonstrated that various risk and protective factors associated with family management may affect adolescent substance use. Interaction amongst risk or protective factors, as well as the type of substance, should be considered when further considering interventions based on these risk or protective factors. Keywords: Risk factors, Protective factors, Substance use, Adolescents, Family management, Discipline and behavioural control, Parental monitoring, Parental discipline, Parental rewards, South Africa
Background Substance use among adolescents has been reported to significantly affect the health and various facets of individual well-being [1]. With close to half of the South African population consisting of youth 20 years old or younger [2], it is important to pay attention to the use of Alcohol and other Drugs (AODs) by this group due to the potential implications for the country’s socio-economic development [3]. Negative health consequences are increasingly being addressed by prevention science, which involves reducing risk and enhancing promotive or protective factors in individuals and the environment surrounding them during their growth and development [4]. Risk factors * Correspondence: [email protected] University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
predict enhanced likelihood of problems, while protective factors mediate or moderate exposure to the risk [5]. Protective factors buffer adolescents from exposure to risks leading to a reduced likelihood of acquiring such proble
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