The Effect of Loneliness and Family Communication on Addiction Potential: A Study Conducted in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

 The prevalence of risky behaviors, such as drug abuse, among adolescents and young adults indicates the importance of investigating and recognizing such risky behaviors.

 The present study aimed to examine the effect of loneliness and family communication on addiction potential.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 to 2016. The current study had a sample of 452 students (242 men and 210 women), who were studying at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan, in Zahedan, Iran. The participants were selected using a cluster sampling method. The Schmidt and Sermat Feeling of Loneliness Scale (1983), Fitzpatrick and Ritchie Family Communication Patterns Inventory (1994), and Weed, Butcher, McKenna, and Ben-Porath Addiction Potential Scale (1992) were used as data measurement tools. Data was analyzed in SPSS software, using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiple regression.

 Results showed that loneliness and laissez-faire communication patterns were significantly and directly related to addiction potential; however, the consensual communication pattern was significantly and diversely correlated with addiction potential. In addition, results of the regression analysis indicated that, in the first step, loneliness predicted 0.09 and, in the second step, loneliness together with the laissez-faire communication patter predicted 0.11 of the variance in addiction potential (P ≤ 0.001).

 Accordingly, university students and university students and educators are advised to pay attention to loneliness and family communication, as these factors play an important role in addiction potential. Thus, special programs should be introduced that focus on these specific factors.