Parental Acceptance - Rejection and Parental Control as Determinants of Substance Abuse: A Comparative Study of Drug Addicts and Non-drug Addicts

Abstract

This research investigated the influence of perceived parental acceptance-rejection and parental control among drug addicts and non -addicts. A group of drug addicts (N = 50) and non-drug addicts (N = 50) was selected for the study. The sample of drug addicts was selected from drug Rehabilitation centers in Hyderabad and Sanghar districts of Sindh Province using Purposive sampling technique. Non -drug addicts were college students of Hyderabad. Age, gender, both parents alive and social class were kept same for both groups. Parental Acceptance- Rejection Control Questionnaire (child PARQ: Father & Mother), was administered for data collection. Results indicated drug addicts were higher on both mother and father rejection as compared to non-drug addicts. They also perceived their parents more neglecting and aggressive. Further the findings of the study have shown less scores of drug addicts on control subscale of PARQ-Control as compared to the scores of non-drug addicts. These findings are consistent with the universal postulates of IPAR Theory, specifically ab out importance of parental acceptance-rejection and parental control and their place in children’s life. The implications of the study hove discussed in terms of the influence and importance of perceived parenting style in drug addiction.