Substance use among adolescents. Risk factors and protective factors

Abstract

The scientific literature indicates that negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, and depression are significant predictors of substance use, while social support may moderate this relationship by acting as a protective factor. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between negative emotions, perfectionism, social support, and substance use among adolescents. The participants were 238 adolescents, aged between 14 and 20 years. The instruments used included the CES-D scale for depression, the PSS for stress, the BIS for anxiety, the Social Provisions Scale for social support, the Perfectionism scale for measuring perfectionism, and the SURPS for assessing substance use risk. The study employed a quantitative design, using online surveys and non-random sampling. The main findings indicate significant gender differences: girls reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress compared to boys. No significant gender differences were found regarding the substance use. Low social support was associated with a higher substance use. The practical implications highlight the importance of interventions aimed at enhancing social support and managing negative emotions in order to reduce the risk of substance use among adolescents.