Perceived Discrimination and Early Substance Abuse among American Indian Children Essay Example
The Social Problem: Perceived Discrimination and Early Substance Abuse among American Indian Children
The study, titled "Perceived Discrimination and Early Substance Abuse among American Indian Children," seeks to address the issue of discrimination and drug abuse as a significant social problem. The authors investigate whether there is a connection between perceived discrimination and early substance abuse using internalizing and externalizing criteria. They argue that discrimination has negative consequences, potentially leading individuals to engage in self-destructive behaviors such as drug abuse. According to Whitbeck et.al (2001), discrimination has adverse effects on both physical and mental health, particularly impacting adults and significantly contributing to stress.
The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of discrimination and substance abuse in early years, along with their associated problematic features.
Methodology
...
In order to carry out their investigation, Whitbeck et.al (2001) employed a cross-sectional analysis. The sample consisted of 195 individuals from Native American descent who shared a common culture. Interviews were conducted with 220 children selected from three reservations, comprising of 120 boys and 100 girls.
In the in-depth analysis, 25 cases were considered invalid, resulting in the use of 195 data points. The collection process involved interviews and surveys conducted by a trained team. To take part, children had to meet specific criteria: being enrolled tribal members and in grades 5th to 8th. The age range of participants was from 9 to 16 years old. It is essential to note that adolescence was treated as a continuous variable in this research. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were both used throughout the study (Research Methods, 2011).
The study utilized structural equations modeling to assess the significance of the parameters in question. The data collecte
was analyzed using a graphical approach.
Findings
The results indicated that 49% of the adolescents experienced perceived discrimination due to their American Indian background (whitebeck et.al. 2001). Additionally, perceived discrimination significantly influenced the internalizing symptoms experienced by the adolescents. It is crucial to note that there is no substantial association between internalizing symptoms and drug abuse.
The impact of perceived discrimination on adolescent drug abuse is primarily influenced by their anger and lack of control. Whitebeck et al. (2001) conducted a study that examined these two variables, revealing a positive correlation between irritating behavior and alcohol consumption. This suggests that adolescents with problematic traits are more prone to developing uncontrollable substance abuse. The authors also found a strong relationship between drug abuse and discrimination through structural equation modeling, considering factors such as age, gender, and family income. In my opinion, the most effective solution for addressing discrimination and drug abuse is to promote a prominent moral culture by increasing awareness.
Implementing such measures will increase the focus on the negative consequences of discrimination and drug abuse, as well as their associated side effects. This will contribute to reducing immoral behavior and shaping a purpose-driven generation.
References
- Research Methods. (2011). In A Big Apple for Educators: New York City's Experiment with Schoolwide Performance Bonuses (p. 49). Santa Monica, CA; Arlington, VA; Pittsburgh, PA: RAND Corporation.
- Whitbeck, Les B., Hoyt, Dan R., McMorris, Barbara J., Chen, Xiaojin, & Stubben, Jerry D. (2001).
Perceived discrimination among American Indian children is linked to early substance abuse, as stated in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior (42(4), p. 405-424).
