Abstract :

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Drug use among adolescents is a critical global concern, warranting multifaceted exploration. While various studies have identified family and individual factors as risks or protective factors against drug use, few have delved into the role of mediators like social problem-solving skills. This study aims to predict adolescent attitudes toward drug use based on family educational risk factors, mediated by social problem-solving skills regarding addiction attitudes, to formulate a comprehensive model explaining drug use tendencies.

Methodology: This descriptive, correlational study involved students across educational levels in Ghaemshahr. A sample of 378 participants was determined using Cochran’s formula. Questionnaires assessing parenting styles, Bamrind parenting styles, addiction attitudes, social problem-solving skills, and socioeconomic status were administered. Path analysis served as the statistical method, with various indicators evaluating model adequacy.

Findings: Family socioeconomic status exhibited a direct, positive, and significant relationship (trajectory coefficient = 2.35) in predicting adolescent attitudes toward drug use. Adaptive problem-solving skills displayed a direct, positive albeit insignificant relationship (path coefficient = 1.63) with drug use attitudes. Conversely, incompatible problem-solving skills showed a direct, significant, and negative relationship (path coefficient = 0.27) with drug use attitudes. Parenting styles demonstrated a direct, negative, and significant relationship (trajectory coefficient = -2.19) in predicting drug use attitudes among adolescents.

Conclusion: Parenting styles, incompatible social problem-solving skills, and attitudes toward addiction significantly relate to adolescent attitudes toward drug use, while drug use itself shows no significant relationship.

Keywords: Attitude; Educational risk factors; Family risk factors; Model design.