Prediction of substance use tendency based on psychological family climate and role of peer group in adolescent tobacco users

Exposure to and communication with peers who consume substances or tobacco creates special beliefs in individuals that lead to drug abuse tendencies. The aim of this study was prediction of substance use tendency based on the psychological family climate and the role of peer group in adolescent tobacco users.

The research method was descriptive and correlational type and the statistical population of the study was all male and female adolescents (13-19 years old) in the second half of 2016 which using cluster random sampling. First, Tehran divided into 5 geographical parts of north, south, west, east and center. Then from 22 areas of the municipality, regions of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 and 16 randomly were chosen and finally, 150 individuals were selected consciously. Data were collected using Addiction Susceptibility Questionnaire-Adolescents Version by Zeinali (2014); Affective Family Climate Scale by Hillburn 1964; Adolescent Affiliation with deviant Peers Scale by Paschal, Ringwalt & Flewelling (2003). After omission of 5 distorted questionnaires and 3 outlier subjects, data analysis was performed using analytical regression analysis.

The results of this study showed that affiliation with deviant peers positively and significantly predicts substance use tendency in adolescent tobacco users (β=0.364, P<0.01).

Relationship and friendship with deviant peers and inappropriate psychological family climate are effective factors for substance use tendency in adolescent tobacco users and prevention of smoking by adolescents is necessary.