Modeling the Tendency to Use Drugs Based on Sensation Seeking with the Mediation of Emotion Dysregulation

Drug use is a dangerous factor among adolescents. The aim of this study was modeling the tendency to use drugs based on sensation seeking with the mediation of emotion dysregulation (path analysis).

The present study was a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all male secondary high school students in public schools in the academic year of 2019-2020 in the city of Ardabil. Among them, a sample of 200 people were selected by multi-stage cluster random sampling and they answered to Weed and Butcherchr('39')s addiction potential scale (1992), Zuckermanchr('39')s sensation-seeking scale (1980) and Gratz and Roemerchr('39')s difficulties in emotion regulation scale (2004). The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient tests and structural equation modeling using SPSS-25 and LISREL 8.8 software.

The results showed that the tendency to use drugs had positive significant relationships with the total score of emotion dysregulation and the total score of sensation seeking and its components including adventure seeking, experience seeking, and disinhibition. Also, emotion dysregulation had positive significant relationships with the total score of sensation seeking and its components. Model fit indices also confirmed the effect of sensation seeking on tendency to use drugs mediated by emotion dysregulation.

According to the results of this study, it is recommended to hold educational workshops to raise awareness of the side effects of addiction and to manage and control emotions for adolescents by school counselors and mental health planners.