Family relations, peer influence, spirituality and drug use among students in one university in Kingston, Jamaica

摘要

This study seeks to illuminate the relationship between family relations, peer influence, spirituality and drug use among students in one university in Kingston, Jamaica. A cross-sectional survey design was employed to collect quantitative data from 335 undergraduate university students, using self-report questionnaires. The sample consisted of 335 students (69 % male and 31% female) between the ages 18-24 years. 77.6 % of the sample reported drug use within the past year. A significant positive correlation was identified between past year cannabis use and having dysfunctional and stressful family relationships (p.05); and negative correlations between past year alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and positive peer influence (p.05) as well as higher levels of spirituality (p.01). A connected family relationship was a protective factor against cannabis use, while positive peer influence and high levels of spirituality are protective factors against alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among the students who participated in this study.