NCJ Number
226037
Journal
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2009 Pages: 88-105
Date Published
January 2009
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the role of self-worth contingencies in the link between childhood maltreatment experiences and later substance use behaviors, and the differential impact of different maltreatment subtypes regarding college students’ current substance use.
Abstract
Results demonstrated that, for both male and female students, external contingency of appearance was related to higher substance use, whereas internal contingencies of God’s love and virtue were related to lower substance use. The findings highlight the protective role of internal contingencies of self-worth in substance use among females with childhood sexual abuse. It was hypothesized in this study that self-worth characteristics might play a mediating role in the development of substance use problems among participants with childhood maltreatment experiences. It was also hypothesized that individuals who based self-worth on external factors, such as appearance would show higher rates of substance use compared to those relying on internal self-worth. The main objective of this study was to identify pathways between differential maltreatment experiences in childhood and later substance use problems among college students, focusing on the role of seven dimensions of contingencies of self-worth (family support, competition, appearance, academic competence, approval from others, God’s love, and virtue) as a mediational mechanism. In addition, gender differences were examined in these pathways. Five hundred and thirteen students from a southeastern university participated in the study. Tables, figure, and references