Attachment Style as a Predictor of Substance Dependency in Juvenile

Addiction or substance abuse is a serious issue that threatens the human society. Several factors are effective on the emergence، persistence and treatment of addiction. Some probable predictors of substance abuse have been studied among which is attachment styles. Attachment is an affective bond between mother and infant in developmental psychology. Insecure experiences of attachment can develop a predisposition toward substance abuse.

Subjects included 120 students and 81 young drug addicts. Convenience sampling was used to select the addicted subjects by referring to the addicts’ welfare centers. Multistage cluster sampling method was used to choose the non addicts by referring to the universities in Ilam، Iran. The instrument for data gathering was adults’ attachment styles of Coolins and Reed.

The regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between attachment styles (avoidant and anxiety) and drug dependency، but there was a negative، invers significant relationship between secure attachment style and drug dependency (P < 0. 01).

Lack of appropriate interaction between child and mother during childhood and emotional deprivations leads to child’s addiction. Non responsive and low confidence parents، distance between mother and children، feeling of hostility and lack of child care can also result in drug abuse and addiction.