The role of attachment style in substance use tendency: Investigating the mediating role of sense of coherence

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of attachment style in substance use tendency considering the mediating role of sense of coherence in students of Shahid Beheshti University of Mashhad.

The present study was a correlation study using structural equation modeling method. The study population consisted of students of Shahid Beheshti Campus of Mashhad College of Education in the academic year of 2017-2018. 400 students (311 male and 89 female) were selected by random cluster sampling method. Measures of study are: addiction tendency questionnaires (Mir Hessami, 1), attachment styles (Hazen & Shaver, 1987) and sense of coherence (Antonovsky, 1987).

The results showed that attachment style and substance use tendency have a direct relationship (p <0.05). Also, attachment style and tendency to substance use have indirect effects on tendency to substance use through sense of coherence (p <0.05).

To reduce the tendency to use drugs, insecure and avoidant attachment styles should be changed to secure styles and improve self-esteem in individuals. Attachment styles affect the quality of social relationships and, subsequently, self-esteem. Promoting a sense of coherence leads to a strong sense of perceiving events.