Predicting Addiction Potential based on Mental Health, Social Support and Neuroticism and Agreeableness Personality Traits

There are several factors that affect the addiction potential, which in turn interact with each other, triggers consumption and then addiction. The purpose of this study was to predict addiction potential based on mental health, social support and two personality traits; neuroticism and agreeableness. The method of this research is descriptive-correlational. The statistical population was all members of Red Crescent Society of seven provinces of Iran (East Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan, Ardabil, Zanjan, Gilan, Kerman and Hormozgan) that 218 of them (107 boys and 111 girls) were selected the census method as the research sample. Measurement tools include Zargar Iranian Addiction Potential Scale, Phillips & et al Social Support Appraisal Scale, Symptom Check List-25 and Neo Five Factor Inventory. Then data was analyzed by Pearson correlation and stepwise regression. The findings showed that there is a significant positive correlation between poor mental health and addiction potential (P ≤ 0.01) and social support has a significant negative correlation with the addiction potential (P ≤ 0.01). Also there was significant positive correlation between neuroticism and addiction potential and negative correlation between agreeableness and addiction potential (P ≤ 0.01). The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that mental health was with positive beta coefficient (B = 0.31), neuroticism with positive beta coefficient (B = 0.27) and social support with negative beta coefficient (B -0.14) is able to predict the readiness of addiction, respectively. Finally, these variables were able to explain 31 percent of variance of addiction potential (R2 = 0.32). According to the results of the research it can be said that, mental health, social support and personality traits can play a significant role in the addiction potential in individuals, and the need to pay attention to them in addiction prevention programs should be considered.