Predicting Tendency to Abuse Drugs by Using Differentiation and Metacognition among University Students

The aim of this study was to predict tendency to drug abuse by using the differentiation and metacognition. For this purpose, the questionnaires of tendency to drug abuse (Wed, et.al.1992), differentiation (Skowron & Friedlander), metacognition beliefs (wells & cartwright-Hatton) were administered among 288(137 female, 151 male) students at Razi University of Kermanshah. The analysis of the findings indicated that total scores differentiation predicted the tendency towards addiction. The analysis of stepwise regression differentiation of the subscales of metacognition indicated that among the five existing subscales, positive belief about worry (R=./36), cognitive confidence (R=0/25), and cognitive self–consciousness (R=0/31) predicted the tendency towards drug abuse. Uncontrolled thought (R=0/26) and the need to control thought (R=0/30) did not predict the tendency towards drug abuse. Based upon the findings, it seems that among the students with low differentiation, superior tendency towards drug abuse exists. However, among the students with deficiency in cognition processes, the tendency towards drug abuse is more probable. Key words: differentiation, meta‌cognition, tendency to drug abuse, Students