Psychological Factors Related with Substance Use Among Regularly Drinking University Students with Low Income

Abstract

In this study it was aimed to investigate the psychological factors related with regularly drinking university students’ substance use in a social perspective. Among 1720 students selected with convenience sampling who consumed alcohol with a frequency of at least once a month during the past year were selected as “regular drinkers” (n=586). The Sociotropy and Autonomy Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Stress Audit Scale, and the Locus of Control Scale were administrated for data collection. Then, the relationship between ever use of an illicit substance and the aforementioned psychological factors was investigated in high- and low-income groups separately. A low level of Vulnerability to Stress and scoring lower in the Sociotropy Scale were found to be significantly related with a higher risk of substance use among low-income regularly drinking students. In the context of disadvantegous socioeconomic conditions, a low level of sociotropy and a low level of motivation indicate lack of attachment to the society, thus leading to a higher risk for substance use.