Substance Abuse Among Urban Aboriginals

Association with a History of Physical/Sexual Abuse

Bibliographic Data

ID15414874
AuthorsKahá wi J Jacobs (McGill University Health Centre, corresponding author), Kathryn Gill (0000-0001-6980-3205, McGill University Health Centre)
Year2002
Volume1
Issue2
Pages19-39
Publication date2002-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1533-2640 • E-ISSN: 1533-2659
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1300/j233v01n02_03
OpenAlexW1833919675
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited24

This paper reports findings of a study of mental health among urban Aboriginal peoples. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used to explore the relationship between substance abuse and physical/sexual abuse in a sample of Aboriginal peoples living in an urban community. Open-ended interviews were conducted in a sample of 30 Aboriginals that included Aboriginal social service providers (from health, legal and family services). Forty percent of the sample had been abused and many experienced social, psychological and emotional problems associated with abusive experiences. Content analysis of the interviews revealed common themes in violence discourse including loss of identity and control, the normalization of violence, and revictimization. Substance use, family dysfunction, and difficulty in interpersonal relationships were also associated with abuse experiences. Structured interviews conducted with a larger sample of urban Aboriginals (n = 245) revealed high rates of lifetime psychological distress (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation) as well as attempted suicide (39.1%). The analyses also demonstrated that there were high rates of sexual abuse (39.6%), physical abuse (51.8%) and emotional abuse (61.6%) in the sample. When the sample was stratified for history of physical and/or sexual abuse, the analyses indicated that social, psychological and behavioural problems were amplified among those with histories of abuse. Rates of recent and lifetime psychological distress were highest among those who had been both physically and sexually abused. In addition, females were more likely to have been physically and sexually abused (males 25.6% versus females 48.4%, p < 0.001). Family dysfunction was a key indicator of psychological problems among abuse victims. In particular, a family history of psychological problems was strongly associated with physical/sexual abuse. While rates of family history of drug or alcohol problems are high for abused and non-abused individuals alike, those who had experienced physical abuse or physical/sexual abuse rated higher for a current substance abuse problem. It is suggested that issues such as family functioning and the inter-generational transmission of violent behavior and substance abuse be pursued in future mental health research among urban Aboriginal peoples

Medical emergency · Mental health · Physical abuse · Poison control · Psychiatry · Psychological abuse · Sexual abuse · Substance abuse · Suicidal ideation · Suicide prevention · Child Abuse and Trauma · Clinical Psychology · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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