Exploring gender differences in the vulnerability towards drug abuse among adolescents in Malaysia

Authors

  • Wan Shahrazad Wan Sulaiman Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7432-7637
  • Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3431-8960
  • Ezarina Zakaria Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0729-1993
  • Fauziah Ibrahim Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4029-8123
  • Nazirah Hassan Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9373-7196
  • Jamiah Manap Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2712-5228
  • Salina Nen Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3504-4463
  • Zainah Ahmad Zamani Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7545-3368
  • Fatimah Yusooff Open University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21580/pjpp.v6i1.6679

Keywords:

gender, vulnerability, drug abuse

Abstract

Protective and risk factors are important issues to consider to reduce the vulnerability of adolescents to drug abuse. This study aims to determine the vulnerability to drug abuse in terms of gender differences in high-risk areas, based on statistics/data from the National Anti Narcotics Agency of Malaysia, namely in Sabak Bernam, Dungun, Johor Bahru, and Kuala Kedah. A survey method was employed, with 213 adolescents (52.1% male, 47.9% female) who met the inclusion criteria completing the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of five aspects, namely demographic profile, interpersonal conflict, negative emotions, social support, and mental health. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the analysis show that there was no significant difference in aspects of interpersonal conflict (t=-0.556, p > .05), negative emotions (t=0.131, p>.05), or mental health by gender (t=-0.898, p > .05). However, there was a significant difference in the aspect of social support (t=-2.046, p <.05), with female subjects (37.13) showing a higher mean score than males (34.83). The findings of the study indicate that it is very important to understand the relevant factors so that drug abuse can be identified and prevented early on.

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Author Biographies

Wan Shahrazad Wan Sulaiman, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Ezarina Zakaria, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Fauziah Ibrahim, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Nazirah Hassan, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Jamiah Manap, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Salina Nen, Centre for Research in Psychology and Human Well-Being, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor

Fatimah Yusooff, Open University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

 

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Published

2021-05-30

How to Cite

Wan Sulaiman, W. S., Kamaluddin, M. R., Zakaria, E., Ibrahim, F., Hassan, N., Manap, J., … Yusooff, F. (2021). Exploring gender differences in the vulnerability towards drug abuse among adolescents in Malaysia. Psikohumaniora: Jurnal Penelitian Psikologi, 6(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.21580/pjpp.v6i1.6679

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Articles

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