High School Students’ Substance Abuse Tendencies: A Comparison Based on Personal, Social, and Academic Variables

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the substance abuse proclivity of students attending different types of high schools based on some personal, social and academic factors. The study sample consists of students attending different types of high schools (i.e., Science High Schools, Anatolian High Schools, Social Sciences High Schools, Health Vocational High Schools, Vocational and Technical High Schools, and Fine Arts High Schools) in a province located in Turkey's Black Sea region whose city center is considered to be a metropolis (TR: buyuksehir) by Turkish standards during the 2015-2016 academic year. A total of 903 students, of which 513 were female (56.8%) and 390 were male (43.2%), receiving education from the different types of high schools listed above were chosen via simple random sampling. Two forms, namely the personal information form and the Substance Abuse Proclivity Scale, were used to collect data. The research reveals that while high school students' scores measuring substance abuse proclivity significantly differ based on gender, type of high school, grade level, family income, and personal or family substance abuse, they do not significantly differ based on family type or sibling birth order. The findings are discussed in light of the literature. The results of this research will help determine adolescent substance abuse proclivity and increase the knowledge base for future studies seeking to develop prevention methods.