This study examined whether adoption status (adopted/non-adopted) and/or genetic family history of substance abuse (positive/negative) were significantly related to measures of depression, self-esteem stress, and substance usage in a sample of adults drawn through a variety of recruitment sources. The findings observed for all conducted analyses are presented in this chapter of the thesis. Findings are organized and reported in terms of each of the four dependent measures. Also, findings are discussed in relation to the study's research hypotheses.
A two-way between-subjects analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether study participants' depression scores (as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory) were significantly related to the Adoption Status and/or Genetic History of substance abuse variables. The findings observed for this analysis, along with cell and marginal means, are presented in Table 4.1.
As can be seen from inspection of Table 4.1, the conducted analysis of variance revealed two main effects, one for the Adoption Status variable (F=5.29; p<.05) and one for the Genetic History of substance abuse variable (F=8.06, p<.01). Observation of marginal means revealed the nature of both of the observed main effects.
First, adoptees (Marginal Mean = 7.62) were significantly
Analysis of Variance Summary Table: Depression Data
SOURCE df MS F p
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Adoption Status 1 192.86 5.29 <.05
Genetic History 1 293.77 8.06 <.01
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GENETIC HISTORY OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
ADOPTION STATUS Positive Negative Marginal
more depressed than non-adopte...