Objective: Investigators have examined the moderating effects of young people’s relationships with parents, teachers, and peers on victimization and on adverse outcomes such as drug use. However, the moderating influence of religious affiliation on the association between peer victimization and illicit drug use, the focus of this paper, has seldom been examined. Method: Participants were 638 low-income African American youth ages 12–22 (mean age = 15.8; 54% female and 46% male) in Chicago, IL. We conducted hierarchical logistic regression analyses to examine the moderating effect of religious affiliation on the relationship between peer victimization and illicit drug use. Results: Youths who had been victimized by peers were at elevated risk for illicit drug use. Victimized peers who reported a religious affiliation or who attended religious services were less likely to use illicit drugs than other youths. Involvement in prayer or meditation per se did not influence the relationship between peer victimization and illicit drug use. Conclusions: Affiliation and participation in religious services may be important intervention points in efforts to prevent or reduce illicit drug use.

中文翻译：

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在芝加哥的非洲裔美国青少年中的同伴受害和非法药物使用：宗教联系的调节作用

目的：研究人员研究了年轻人与父母，老师和同龄人的关系对受害和对不良后果（如吸毒）的调节作用。但是，很少研究宗教信仰对同伴受害与非法毒品使用之间联系的适度影响。方法：参与者是伊利诺伊州芝加哥市的638位低收入的12-22岁的非裔美国青年（平均年龄= 15.8；女性为54％，男性为46％）。我们进行了分层逻辑回归分析，以检验宗教信仰对同伴受害与非法药物使用之间关系的调节作用。结果：受到同伴伤害的青年人吸毒的风险较高。与其他年轻人相比，报告有宗教信仰或参加宗教仪式的受害同伴使用非法药物的可能性较小。参与祈祷或冥想本身并不影响同伴受害与非法药物使用之间的关系。结论：参加和参加宗教服务可能是预防或减少非法药物使用的重要干预点。