Abstract
In modern, competitive societies the social organisation of «youth» implies both the chance and risk of (intergenerational) vertical social mobility. It is suggested that it is precisely this basic feature that to a considerable extent gives rise to substance use. In particular the paper aims at analysing the impact of the risk of educational downward mobility as well as some related characteristics. Using LISREL VI, it is shown that this type of educational career pattern, actual or anticipated, substantially contributes to the consumption of legal drugs. Weight is given to an extended analysis of the mode of action involved in the relationship between substance use and the career pattern as well as associated characteristics, respectively. As far as home is concerned, social conflict and associated feelings on the side of the adolescents turn out to be a major ‘mechanism’ through which the observable impact of educational downward mobility can be traced back. Integration into both the cultural system of «legalized» drug use and subcultural contexts as provided by social cliques is a further condition that strongly influences substance use among adolescents.
Résumé
Dans nos sociétés compétitives modernes, la jeunesse est confrontée aux chances et aux risques de la mobilité sociale verticale. Selon les auteurs c’est cette caractéristique de l’organisation sociale du monde des jeunes qui, pour une grande part, suscite le recours aux substances novices. En particulier, dans cet article, on analyse l’impact du risque entraîné par une carrière scolaire défavorable et d’autres caractéristiques associées. A l’aide du modèle d’analyse LISREL VI, on montre que ce type de trajectoire scolaire, réelle ou anticipée, contribue notablement à susciter l’usage de drogues légales. En ce qui concerne l’expérience familiale, les conflits vécus et les sentiments qu’ils engendrent chez l’adolescent font partie du mécanisme déclenché par la détérioration du statut scolaire. L’intégration au système culturel de l’intoxication légale et l’appartenance aux sub-cultures que constituent certains groupes sociaux s’ajoutent aux conditions qui influencent le recours à la drogue chez l’adolescent.
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The present article is part of research of the Special Research Unit 227 «Prevention and Intervention in Childhood and Adolescence» at the University of Bielefeld, F.R.G., which is funded by grants of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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Engel, U., Nordlohne, E., Hurrelmann, K. et al. Educational career and substance use in adolescence. Eur J Psychol Educ 2, 365–374 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172621
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172621