Comparison of Self-Esteem, Mental Health and Risky Behaviours between Children of Drug Abuser and Non-Drug Abuser Parents

Abstract

Aim and Background: Reviewing the previous articles appears that most studies have concentrated on the drug abusers themselves, not on their families and children. According to previous researches, addicted people can cause social damage to their family.Materials and Methods: This study is a case-control study, designed to evaluate mental health, risky behaviors and self-esteem among the children of drug abuser parents. The case group are 150 children of male drug abusers who referred; and the control group are a random selection of 150 children of non-drug abuser parents in the same period. Rosenberg self-esteem test, SCL-90-R and additional questionnaires were used for evaluation.Results: The present study indicates that comparing to the children of non-drug abusers, the children of drug abusers are more susceptible to problems like somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sensitivity in communications, anxiety, depression, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychosis and insomnia discrete orientation.Conclusion: Children of addicted parents have poorer self-esteem and show more tendencies to high-risk behaviours such as dangerous driving, violence, smoking, drugs, alcohol and non-appropriate sexual behavior. Therefore, these children need more attention in their educational, social and familial issues. Besides, a more serious attempt should be considered in identifying and screening for mental health and behavioral interventions in these children.