Univariate Analysis of Predictors of Substance use and Substance use behaviour among Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is universally a time of vulnerability to different influences when adolescents initiate various behaviours, including substance use. A desire to experiment and explore can manifest in various behaviours exploring sexual relationships, alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco and other substances use and abused. The objective of this study was to identify the predictors of substance use and substance use behaviour pattern among adolescent students. Data collected from a random sample of 240 adolescent students revealed the majority of the sample had experienced one or the other substances, of which Hookah was at first place, followed by alcohol, cigarette and marijuana, respectively. The univariate analysis of the study revealed that adolescent students studying in a higher class, those above 15 years and male students were more prone to take substances. Parents' lower level of education, Lower family income, and occupation were also significant factors associated with substance use among adolescents (p-value<0.01). Relationship with fathers, children who have authoritarian or liberal parents were found to be more prone to take substances (p-value<0.01). Participants having family members with the habit of taking substance were also found to be more prone to develop the habit of substance use. Also, substance use was significantly lower among those participants whose parents have educated them about substances. The data suggest that experimentation is the major factor associated with substance use among adolescents followed by trends and partying, social media influence, seeing family members and peer influence, respectively.