Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Drug Abuse-Related Behaviors among Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction:  Drug abuse is one of the important challenges in the field of mental health and adolescence health promotion. Due to the social and medical costs of drug abuse and its consequences among the youth, it is necessary to deal with this issue effectively. Therefore, in this theoretical study, the predictability of the Theory of Planned Behavior on drug abuse related behaviors was explained among adolescents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Chabahar City in 2015 among 300 male adolescents, recruited randomly. All data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity. The data were analyzed by independent t- test and pearson correlation. 

Results: we found that 77% of the participants had no history of parental drug abuse. Furthermore, 72% of participants reported a history of using industrial drugs in their friends. The Chi-square test showed that adolescent's smoking had a significant relationship with father's education, family size, history of using industrial drugs in parents , history of using industrial drugs in friends, and the participants' business o (P˃0.000). However, the level of maternal education (P = 682) and living with parents (P = 729) had no significant relationship with the adolescents' smoking rate.

Conclusions: since knowledge and attitude had the highest correlation and predictability with industrial drug abuse among the adolescents, theory of planned behavior can be used properly and effectively to plan and implement  prevention programs among the adolescents.