[Assessment of substance abuse behaviors in adolescents: integration of self-control into extended parallel process model]

ABSTRACT

An effective preventive health education program on drug abuse can be delivered by applyingbehavior change theories in a complementary fashion. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of integrating self-control into Extended ParallelProcess Model in drug substance abuse behaviors. A sample of 189 governmental high school studentsparticipated in this survey. Information was collected individually by completing researcher designedquestionnaire and a urinary rapid immuno-chromatography test for opium and marijuana.The results of the study show that 6.9% of students used drugs [especially opium and marijuana] andalso peer pressure was determinant factor for using drugs. Moreover the EPPM theoretical variables of perceivedseverity and perceived self-efficacy with self-control are predictive factors to behavior intention againstsubstance abuse. In this manner, self-control had a significant effect on protective motivation and perceivedefficacy. Low self- control was a predictive factor of drug abuse and low self-control students had drug abuseexperience.The results of this study suggest that an integration of self-control into EPPM can be effective inexpressing and designing primary preventive programs against drug abuse, and assessing abused behavior anddeviance behaviors among adolescent population, especially risk seekers