Educational career and substance use in adolescence (original) (raw)

Abstract

In modern, competitive societies the social organisation of «youth» implies both the chance and risk of (intergenerational) vertical social mobility. It is suggested that it is precisely this basic feature that to a considerable extent gives rise to substance use. In particular the paper aims at analysing the impact of the risk of educational downward mobility as well as some related characteristics. Using LISREL VI, it is shown that this type of educational career pattern, actual or anticipated, substantially contributes to the consumption of legal drugs. Weight is given to an extended analysis of the mode of action involved in the relationship between substance use and the career pattern as well as associated characteristics, respectively. As far as home is concerned, social conflict and associated feelings on the side of the adolescents turn out to be a major ‘mechanism’ through which the observable impact of educational downward mobility can be traced back. Integration into both the cultural system of «legalized» drug use and subcultural contexts as provided by social cliques is a further condition that strongly influences substance use among adolescents.

Résumé

Dans nos sociétés compétitives modernes, la jeunesse est confrontée aux chances et aux risques de la mobilité sociale verticale. Selon les auteurs c’est cette caractéristique de l’organisation sociale du monde des jeunes qui, pour une grande part, suscite le recours aux substances novices. En particulier, dans cet article, on analyse l’impact du risque entraîné par une carrière scolaire défavorable et d’autres caractéristiques associées. A l’aide du modèle d’analyse LISREL VI, on montre que ce type de trajectoire scolaire, réelle ou anticipée, contribue notablement à susciter l’usage de drogues légales. En ce qui concerne l’expérience familiale, les conflits vécus et les sentiments qu’ils engendrent chez l’adolescent font partie du mécanisme déclenché par la détérioration du statut scolaire. L’intégration au système culturel de l’intoxication légale et l’appartenance aux sub-cultures que constituent certains groupes sociaux s’ajoutent aux conditions qui influencent le recours à la drogue chez l’adolescent.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
• Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
• Cancel anytime View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

• Abelson, H. J., Eishburne, P. M., & Cisin, J. (1977).National survey on drug abuse: 1977. Vol. I, Main findings. Princeton: Response Analysis.
  Google Scholar
• Bachman, J. R., O’Malley, P., & Johnson, L. D. (1984). Drug use among young adults: The impacts of role status and social environment.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 629–645.
  Article Google Scholar
• Engel, U. (1988). Youth, mobility, and social integration. In J. Hazekamp, W. Meeus & Y. te Poel (Eds.),European contributions to youth research. Amsterdam: Free University Press (pp. 81–92).
  Google Scholar
• Graff, J., & Schmidt, P. (1982). A general model for decomposition of effects. In K. G. Jöreskog & H. Wold (Eds.),Systems under indirect observation (Part I, pp. 131–148). Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co.
  Google Scholar
• Hurrelmann, K., Engel, U., Holler, B., & Nordlohne, E. (1988). Failure in school, family conflict, and psychosomatic disorders in adolescence.Journal of Adolescence (in press).
• Jagodzinski, W. (1981). Sozialstruktur, Wertorientierungen und Parteibindung: Zur Problematik eines Sozialisationsmodells.Zeitschrift für Soziologie, 10, 170–191.
  Google Scholar
• Jagodzinski, W. (1986). Pfadmodelle mit latenten Variablen: Eine Einführung in das allgemeine Modell LISREL. In J. v. Koolwijk & M. Wieken-Mayser (Eds.).Techniken der empirischen Sozialforschung. Band 8 (pp. 77–121). München: Oldenbourg.
  Google Scholar
• Jessor, R., & Jessor, S.L. (1977).Problem behaviour and Psychosocial Development. A Longitudinal Study on Youth. New York: Academic Press.
  Google Scholar
• Jöreskog, K. G., & Sörbom, D. (1986).LISREL. User’s guide (4th edition). Mooresville: Scientific Software, Inc.
  Google Scholar
• Johnston, L. D., Bachman, J. G., & O’Malley, P. M. (1982).Student drug use, attitudes and beliefs. National trends 1975–1982. Rockville: National Institute on Drug Abuse.
  Google Scholar
• Kandel, D. B. (1975). Stages in adolescent involvement in drug use.Science, 190, 912–914.
  Article Google Scholar
• Kandel, D. B. (1980). Drug and drinking behavior among youth.Annual Review of Sociology, 6, 235–285.
  Article Google Scholar
• Kandel, D. B. (1984). Drogenkonsum bei Jugendlichen in den USA und im internationalen Vergleich. In H. Häfner & R. Welz (Eds.),Drogenabhängigkeit und Alkoholismus (pp. 43–71). Köln: Rheinland.
  Google Scholar
• Kandel, D. B. (1983). Entwicklungsstadien beim Drogengebrauch Jugendlicher. In D. J. Lettieri & R. Welz (Eds.),Drogenabhängigkeit Ursachen und Verlaufsformen (pp. 131–138). Weinheim: Beltz.
  Google Scholar
• Kreutz, H. (1974).Soziologie der Jugend. München: Juventa.
  Google Scholar
• Pearlin, L. J., & Radabaugh, C. W. (1976). Economic strains and the coping functions of alcohol.American Journal of Sociology, 82, 652–663.
  Article Google Scholar
• Rosenberg, M. (1968).The logic of survey analysis. New York: Basic Books.
  Google Scholar
• Schenk, J. (1982) Suchtmittelmißbrauch. In J. Brandtstädter & A. von Eye (Eds.),Psychologische Prävention (pp. 241–274), Bern: Huber.
  Google Scholar
• Sieber, M., & Angst, J. (1981).Drogen-, Alkohol- und Tabakkonsum. Bern: Huber.
  Google Scholar
• Silbereisen, R. K., & Kastner, P. (1985). Jugend und Drogen. Entwicklung von Drogengebrauch— Drogengebrauch als Entwicklung? In R. Oerter (Ed.),Lebensbewältigung im Jugendalter (pp. 192–219). Weinheim: VCH.
  Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

1. Special Research Unit 227, University of Bielefeld, Postfach 8640, D-4800, Bielefeld
   Uwe Engel, Elisabeth Nordlohne, Klaus Hurrelmann & Birgit Holler

Authors

1. Uwe Engel
2. Elisabeth Nordlohne
3. Klaus Hurrelmann
4. Birgit Holler

Additional information

The present article is part of research of the Special Research Unit 227 «Prevention and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence» at the University of Bielefeld, F.R.G., which is funded by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Engel, U., Nordlohne, E., Hurrelmann, K. et al. Educational career and substance use in adolescence.Eur J Psychol Educ 2, 365–374 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172621

Download citation

• Received: 15 July 1987
• Revised: 15 November 1987
• Issue date: December 1987
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172621

Key words