A Casual Model on Drug Abuse in relation to Parent support, Self- concept, and Peer pressure: Context of Drug Detainees in Davao Region

This study explored the issue of drug abuse among detainees in the Davao Region by examining the combined influence of parental support, self-concept, and peer pressure. The main objective was to determine the individual and combined effects of these three variables on drug abuse behavior. Utilizing a quantitative, non-experimental design with correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM), the study involved drug detainees aged 19–30 from various jail facilities in the region, and employed standardized, pilot-tested survey instruments analyzed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, regression, and SEM. Descriptive results showed that detainees experienced varying levels of parental support, with authoritative parenting being the most prevalent, while uninvolved parenting was lowest. Respondents exhibited high levels of self-concept, particularly in honesty and autonomy, and experienced both positive peer encouragement and resistance to negative peer influence, though some also yielded to peer pressure. Drug abuse was generally moderate, with physical effects and mood regulation being common reasons for substance use. Correlation analysis revealed that authoritative parenting and honesty were negatively correlated with drug abuse, while disciplinarian and uninvolved parenting, as well as yielding to peer pressure, were positively associated. Regression analysis confirmed that peer pressure was the strongest predictor of drug abuse, followed by parental support and self-concept, which had a protective effect. SEM results showed that all three predictors had significant direct paths to drug abuse, and the model demonstrated excellent fit indices, confirming its validity Model 2. The study implies that effective rehabilitation must address peer dynamics, strengthen parental engagement, and enhance detainees' self-concept to reduce drug-related behaviors.