Beliefs and attitudes towards drug use, psychological hardiness, and self-esteem among adolescents in northwestern Syria.

OBJECTIVES

To identify associations between drug use and both self-esteem and psychological hardiness among adolescents in northwestern Syria.

METHODS

Adolescents from various schools in northwestern Syria and Azaz were invited to participate. Participants were assessed for beliefs and attitudes towards drug use (using the Beliefs and Attitudes of Substance Abuse Inventory [BASAI]), psychological hardiness (using the Psychological Hardiness Scale), and self-esteem (using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale).

RESULTS

In total, 230 male and 161 female adolescents aged 11 to 15 years (n = 124) or 16 to 19 years (n = 267) were included in the analysis. BASAI scores were higher in male adolescents than in female adolescents (39.7 ± 8.7 vs 37.7 ± 6.8, p = 0.016) and in those aged 16 to 19 years than in those aged 11 to 15 years (40.0 ± 8.3 vs 36.6 ± 6.8, p < 0.001). BASAI scores were inversely correlated with self-esteem (r = -0.304, p < 0.001) and psychological hardiness (r = -0.451, p < 0.001) scores. Psychological hardiness was a significant predictor of BASAI scores (β = -0.404, B = -0.210, p < 0.001), whereas self-esteem was not (β = -0.090, B = -0.168, p = 0.094).

CONCLUSION

Psychological hardiness is a potential predictor of drug use among adolescents with positive beliefs and attitudes towards substance use. The association may be stronger among male adolescents and high school students.