Spirituality, gender, and drug use among students from one University in Barbados

Abstract

aBStraCt:The research aimed to clarify the relationships between spirituality, gender, and drug use among undergraduate students of one university in Barbados. A quota sample of 250 students was required from the Faculty of Social Sciences as the study was part of a larger multi-centric study involving students from the Faculty of Social Sciences from seven other participating countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Significant negative relationships were found between a student's level of spirituality and their licit and illicit drug use over the past 12 and three months. Males and females also differed significantly in terms of illicit drug use (past 12 and three months). However no gender differences were found as it related to licit drug use. Moreover, females possessed significantly higher levels of spirituality than their male counterparts. Further qualitative research should be conducted among this age group within the Barbadian context to better explain these findings. deSCriptorS: eSpiritualidad, el Sexo y el ConSumo de droGaS entre loS eStudianteS de una uniVerSidad en BarBadoSreSumen: La investigación tuvo como objetivo aclarar la relación entre la espiritualidad , el sexo y el consumo de drogas entre los estudiantes de pregrado de una universidad en Barbados . Una muestra por cuotas de 250 estudiantes fue requerido por la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales como el estudio fue parte de un estudio multicéntrico grande que participen estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de otros siete países participantes de América Latina y el Caribe . Relaciones negativas significativas fueron encontradas entre el nivel de un estudiante de la espiritualidad y de su uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas en los últimos 12 y tres meses . Hombres y mujeres también difieren significativamente en términos de consumo de drogas ilícitas (últimos 12 y tres meses) . Sin embargo no se encontraron diferencias de género en su relación con el uso de drogas lícitas . Por otra parte , las mujeres poseían niveles significativamente más altos de espiritualidad que sus homólogos masculinos . Además la investigación cualitativa debe llevarse a cabo dentro de este grupo de edad en el contexto de Barbados para explicar mejor estos hallazgos .deSCriptoreS: Familia. Espiritualidad. Drogas ilicitas. Estudiantes.

Abordagem da espiritualidade nas instituições de ensino superior de odontologia do Brasil [Spirituality approach in Brazilian higher education institutions of dentistry] [Enfoque de la espiritualidad en las instituciones brasileñas de enseñanza superior de odontología en Brasil]

“…Os homens são mais propensos a se envolver em comportamentos de risco em comparação com as mulheres a partir dos três anos de idade 10 . Considera-se que as diferenças de gênero na religiosidade estão relacionadas ao fato de que as mulheres expressam crenças espirituais mais fortes e relatam mais experiências e práticas espirituais do que os homens 11,12 .…”

Hazardous Drinking and Its Correlates Among University Students in Barbados

“…9 As such, young males are more likely to adopt these behaviours in an attempt to prove their machismo and maturity. Additionally, it is thought that males are greater risk takers than females 20 and thus are more likely to engage in risky behaviours such as hazardous drinking. It is important to note that the presence of such gender differences may have important implications for selective and indicated prevention interventions, and should therefore be considered when such efforts are being designed and implemented.…”

Youth Drug Use in Barbados and England: Correlates With Online Peer Influences

“…This is especially true during the transition to university as drug use tends to escalate among youth, a phenomenon known as the “college effect” (Bachman et al, 2013). Furthermore, those students who engage in drug use at secondary school may demonstrate an increase in drug use upon reaching university (Jules et al, 2015).…”