Investigation of the relationship between childhood traumas, social support and substance use tendency in university students

Abstract

Objective: In the study, the relationship between social support and substance use tendency in university students who were exposed to childhood trauma was investigated. Method: The sample of the study consisted of 316 university students between the ages of 18-25 living in Samsun. Socio-demographic Information Form, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Substance Use Tendency Scale were used to collect data. Results: It was determined that the tendency of men to use substances was higher than women, and the tendency to use substances of the participants living with family was lower than those living alone and with friends. It was determined that the substance use tendency of the participants with low income status was higher than the participants with middle and high income status. The tendency to use substances; It was determined that it was higher in smokers than non-smokers and those who received psychiatric support compared to those who did not. It was determined that the emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect experiences of the participants with a tendency to use substances were statistically significantly higher than the participants without a tendency to use substances. The social support levels of the participants with a tendency to use substances were found to be statistically significantly lower than the participants without a tendency to use substances. Conclusion: It was found that childhood traumas significantly predicted the tendency to use substances.