Childhood Predictors of Daily Substance Use among Homeless Women of Different Ethnicities

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe associations between childhood factors and adult daily substance use profiles among homeless women and to identify independent predictors of daily substance use for the overall sample and for ethnic/acculturation subgroups. Structured surveys were administered to 1,331 homeless women in Los Angeles who were either daily drug and alcohol users for the past 6 months or nondaily substance users. Physical abuse and parental drug abuse predicted daily drug use in the whole sample and selected subgroups, whereas parental alcohol abuse predicted daily alcohol use in the whole sample. Teen self-esteem was also found to have a protective effect on daily alcohol use for the sample and for African American women. Negative peer influence in adolescence predicted daily drug use among high-acculturated Latinas. In summary, childhood abuse, parental substance use, and negative peer influence affect important roles in homeless women's daily substance use.

Predictors of Reported Current and Lifetime Substance Abuse Problems Among a National Sample of U.S. Homeless

“…Similarly, Cuskey and Wathey (1982) found that more than 30% of addicts had been victims of childhood sexual abuse and/or had been physically abused. Similar patterns have been noted among alcoholics (Gomberg and Nirenberg, 1993), homeless males who use illicit drugs (Kim, 2004), female adolescent homeless runaways (Chen, Tyler, Whitbeck, and Hoyt, 2004), and female substance users (Nyamathi, Longshore, Keenan, Lesser, and Leake, 2001;Sterk, 1999). Likewise, Hartwell (2003) used a life history approach in following 31 homeless males in Connecticut and discovered that many had been the victims of neglect and abuse as children as well.…”

Substance Misuse, Suicidal Ideation, and Suicide Attempts Among a National Sample of Homeless

“…Similarly, Cuskey and Wathey (1982) found that more than 30% of addicts had been victims of childhood sexual abuse and/or had been physically abused. Similar patterns have been noted among alcoholics (Gomberg & Nirenberg, 1993), homeless males who use illicit drugs (Kim, 2004), female adolescent homeless runaways (Chen, Tyler, Whitbeck, & Hoyt, 2004), and female substance abusers (Nyamathi, Longshore, Keenan, Lesser, & Leake, 2001;Sterk, 1999). Likewise, Hartwell (2003) used a life history approach in following 31 homeless males in Connecticut and discovered that many had been the victims of neglect and abuse as children as well.…”

“…Substance use combined with homelessness can further be associated with other issues, such as a higher propensity to be victimized (Kushel, Evans, Perry, Robertson, & Moss, 2003). Interestingly, some researchers have noted a relationship between childhood victimization and substance misuse among the homeless (Nyamathi et al, 2001). Clearly, these studies, although they often relied upon small, geographically isolated samples, suggest that there may be an important relationship between victimization and substance abuse, particularly among the homeless.…”

Rompendo o Ciclo de Violência na Família: Concepções de Mães que Não Reproduzem o Abuso Sofrido na Infância com Seus Filhos

“…Além disso, crianças expostas à violência doméstica são mais propensas a apresentar problemas de saúde, incluindo ansiedade, depressão e violência com seus pares (Pournaghash-Tehrani & Feizabadi, 2009), delinquên-cia (Pastorelli;Steca;Gerbino & Vecchio, 2001), ideação suicida (Lai & Mcbride-Chang, 2001), dependência química (Nyamathi, Longshore, Keenan, Lesser & Leake, 2001) e repetição dos maus-tratos sofridos em seus filhos (De Antoni et al, 2007;Falcke, 2006;Mendlowicz & Figueira, 2007;Wareham et al, 2009). A violência familiar ocorre em um ciclo transmitido de geração para geração, sendo fundamental a compreensão deste processo.…”