Can parental substance use, parental death and gender be determinants of substance use among in -school adolescents in Ibadan?

Abstract

This study investigated parental substance use, parental death and gender on in-school adolescents’ substance use in Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross sectional  survey design was employed to obtain data among 1066 in- school adolescents in two different local governments in Ibadan. Purposive sampling was  used to select the local governments while the secondary schools and participants were selected through simple random sampling technique. Findings  revealed that mother use of substance had significant influence on substance use among in-school adolescents [t (886) = 2.79; p < .05]. This study also  revealed that father living status [t (879) = 5.50; p < .01] and mother living status [t (867) = 4.64; p < .01] were significant determinants of substance use of  in-school adolescents. Moreover, adolescents whose father (Mean = 39.85; SD = 9.05) and mother (Mean = 39.66; SD = 8.99) are dead reported higher on  substance use behaviour compared to those whose father and mother were alive. However, there is no gender no significant gender differences in  substance use behaviour among in-school adolescents [t (889) = .77; p > .05. This study therefore suggests that adolescents who experienced parental  loss should be given social supports by their relatives and governments. Moreover, Psycho-education should be given to the parents of adolescents from  time to time on the effects of using substances on their adolescents by Developmental Psychologists, health practitioners and those in educational sector.