The Role of Temperamental and Characteristics Shades of Personality, Basic Psychological Needs, and Early Maladaptive Schemas in Prediction of Vulnerability to Addiction

Aim and Background: Today, using social networks has become a natural modern behavior, but the harmful forms of using them have become very noticeable in the last two decades. The aim of this study was to examine the role of temperamental and characteristics shades, basic psychological needs, and early maladaptive schemas in prediction of vulnerability to addiction in the form of structural relations. Methods and Materials: This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study population included all undergraduate students who were studying at the Farhangian University of Tabriz, Iran, in 2016-2017 academic year. Regarding the fact that the population included both genders with different fields of study, stratified sampling method with optimum allocation was considered and 280 students were selected. Data were collected using Cloninger et al.’s Temperamental and Characteristics Inventory (TCI), Basic Psychological Needs Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire (75-item) (YSQ-75), and Addiction Susceptibility Questionnaire (ASQ). For data analysis, descriptive and referential statistics were used through SPSS and LISREL softwares. Findings: Structural model analysis showed that temperamental and characteristics shades, basic psychological needs, and early maladaptive schemas can predict and explain different paths of vulnerability to addiction in the form of structural relations. In order to improve the mental status in students, attention to these variables during clinical trials with the goal of designing appropriate intervention models or modifying the present ones will be beneficial.