a Department of Criminology , Bar Ilan University , Ramat Gan , Israel.
b The International Research Program on Adolescent Well-Being and Health, School of Education , Bar-Ilan University , Ramat Gan , Israel.
Subst Use Misuse. 2019;54(1):65-77. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1495738. Epub 2018 Oct 26.
Despite research examining the relationship between discrimination and alcohol use and delinquency among adolescents, little is understood about the mechanism behind the relationship.
On the basis of Strain Theory, the current study examined a new theoretical model in which feelings of alienation (from the self, peers, and Israeli society) mediate the relationship between discrimination and alcohol use and delinquency.
A one-year follow-up study was conducted with 146 at-risk youth from the Former Soviet Union and Ethiopia in Israel (63% male), from disadvantaged low socioeconomic neighborhoods. At Time 1 (T1), adolescents were asked about their experiences of discrimination, feelings of alienation, and levels of problem alcohol use (past month/ever drunkenness, past month binge drinking, and regular daily drinking). At time 2 (T2), the participants were again asked as to their experiences of alienation, alcohol use, and delinquency.
Perceived discrimination at T1 significantly predicted feelings of alienation at T2, when controlling for the relationship with alienation at T1. Feelings of alienation (from the self and Israeli society) fully mediated the relationship between discrimination and alcohol use. However, there was a direct relationship between discrimination and delinquency.
Findings emphasize the negative impact of discrimination on adolescents. They suggest that during the critical developmental period of adolescence, feelings of discrimination may be internalized into negative emotions which may lead to involvement in deviant behaviors. Results suggest a need to help adolescents process and make sense of the discriminatory experiences they perceive.
尽管有研究考察了歧视与青少年饮酒和犯罪行为之间的关系,但对于这种关系背后的机制却知之甚少。
基于应激理论,本研究检验了一个新的理论模型,该模型认为,疏离感(对自我、同伴和以色列社会的疏离感)在歧视与饮酒和犯罪行为之间的关系中起中介作用。
对来自前苏联和以色列埃塞俄比亚的 146 名高危青少年(63%为男性)进行了为期一年的随访研究,这些青少年来自社会经济地位较低的弱势社区。在 T1 时,青少年被问及他们的歧视经历、疏离感和酗酒问题(过去一个月/曾醉酒、过去一个月狂饮和日常饮酒)。在 T2 时,再次询问参与者的疏离感、饮酒和犯罪情况。
在控制与 T1 时的疏离感的关系后,T1 时的感知歧视显著预测了 T2 时的疏离感。自我和以色列社会的疏离感完全中介了歧视与饮酒之间的关系。然而,歧视与犯罪之间存在直接关系。
研究结果强调了歧视对青少年的负面影响。它们表明,在青少年的关键发展时期,歧视感可能被内化到负面情绪中,这可能导致参与越轨行为。结果表明,需要帮助青少年处理和理解他们所感知到的歧视经历。