Rejection and the use of chemical agents

The Avoidance of Rejection Scales (of self, by others and of others) were specifically developed to assist the psychometric documentation of choice of an avoidance versus confrontation strategy to the issue of rejection. Three kinds of rejection were examined concurrently with respect to the use of 7 chemical agents related to health and social behavior: tobacco, alcoholic beverages, tranquilizers, medication, stimulants, soft drugs (such as marijuana), and hard drugs (such as heroin). Results of analysis based on a sample of 300 individuals revealed that Low scorers (confronters) reported less use of chemical agents in 15 of the 18 cases wherein a posteriori comparisons among High, Medium and Low Scorer Groups indicated statistically significant differences. Some indication of curvilinearity was indicated in 5 of the statistically significant comparisons. In addition, the strongest linearity between the Rejection Scales and the use of Chemical Agents appeared in the following descending order: Of Others, Of Self and By Others. These results suggest a value to awareness strategies, though not in all cases.