earticle

영어

This study explores the effect of negative family relationships on drug abuse among female offenders. Although psychological correlations have been shown between dysfunctional families and substance abuse, there is a paucity of studies that focus on the relationship between female drug offenders and their family relationships. It is unclear whether or not the problems associated with family dysfunction have a more serious impact on females than males, and if so, to what extent. This study employs Inter University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) data to measure how aversive family relationships are associated with female drug abuse. In addition, the present study uses physical and sexual abuse as an independent variable. The sample population consists of 109 female defendants who were referred to the Breaking the Cycle of Drugs and Crime (BTC) project from 1997 to 2001. Multivariate linear regression analyses identified four significant factors that predict the severity of drug use among female offenders. When race, age, relationships with family members, experience of abuse were controlled through multiple regression analysis, age and prevalence of other family members having alcohol problems were statistically significant factors in increasing drug abuse among female offenders. However, when a drug score was used, conflict with their siblings or their spouses were significant predictors of the severity of drug use when other variables were controlled. Further policy implications are discussed.