Resumen de Predicció de l'actitud vers el consum de drogues basada en l'assertivitat i fortalesa psicològica
ABSTRACT Background: One of the most important strategies to prevent addiction is the development of unfavourable attitudes towards drug use. Multiple investigations have shown that attitudes modulate behaviours and specifically, we know that they can act as a risk factor or protection towards substance use. Attitudes, in turn, are influenced by different variables and in this research we will focus on analysing to what extent they are influenced by the assertiveness and psychological hardiness.
The objective of this research was to predict the attitude towards substance use based on the characteristics of assertiveness and psychological hardiness. We hypothesized that both assertiveness and psychological hardiness favour a negative attitude towards drug use.
Methodology: An investigation with observational, descriptive and relational design of cross section is presented. The sample of participants is of convenience and is made up of 200 patients receiving treatment for substance use disorders, in 8 specialized addiction centres in Tehran. We have 138 men (69.2%) and 62 women (30.8%), with an age between 20 and 40 years (M=32, 50 and SD= .94). The mean number of years of consumption is 3.14 (SD= .98), with opium being the main drug of consumption in 40.20%, followed by methamphetamines or “crystal” (15.16%), the crack (9%) and heroin (8%). Attitude, as a criterion variable, is evaluated with the Nazari Attitude Questionnaire. Assertiveness and psychological hardiness, as predictive variables, are evaluated respectively with the Gambrill and Richey Assertiveness Inventory and the Barton hardiness Questionnaire. The analyses include descriptive statistics of the sample profile, Pearson correlation analysis, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis, with the SPSS program. Results: The sample is formed mainly by men (69.2%; n = 138), young people between 20 and 30 years old (65.8%; n = 132), with secondary or lower levels of education (67.2%; n = 136), married (48%; n = 96) or divorced (185; n = 36), of low social class (46%; n = 82) and middle (35%; n = 70) and mostly with employment (68 %; n = 136). The main drug of use in men and women is opium (40.2%; n = 80) and glass (15.16%; n = 30). Men consume heroin (9.42%), crack (12.32%) and hashish 86.52%) in a higher proportion. It is observed that crack, hashish and ecstasy are consumed in a higher percentage in university degree training levels. The lower the level of training, the higher the percentage of opium, glass and heroin consumers. In the studied psychological variables of attitude, psychological hardiness and assertiveness, no significant differences were observed with respect to the set of variables of the psychosocial and clinical profile. Only a significant difference was detected in the sample, with the attitude towards drug consumption being more favourable in lower social classes. The results showed that there is a negative and significant relationship between psychological hardiness and attitude towards drug use (-.709 **), and also between assertiveness and attitude towards drug use (-.791 **). The results indicate that assertiveness, with a standard coefficient - 0.650, and psychological hardiness, with a standard coefficient - 0.381, are significant predictors of attitude towards drug use.
Conclusions: The psychological variables of hardiness and assertiveness predict 65% the attitude towards drug use. These results have mostly implications in the field of primary prevention.
Keywords: Drug Use, Attitude, Assertiveness, Psychological Hardiness, Risk Factor, Protective Factor, Prevention Primary.
