Structural Relationships of Anxiety Sensitivity and Sense of Coherence with Readiness to Use Substances in College Students: The Mediating Role of Difficulty in Emotion Regulation

The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of difficulty in emotion regulation in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and sense of coherence with readiness to use substances in students.

The study was a descriptive-correlational of structural equation model type. The statistical population of the research included students from Lorestan University, of whom 384 were selected using the convenience sampling. The tools used in this research included the anxiety sensitivity questionnaire, the sense of coherence questionnaire, the difficulty in emotion regulation scale, and the addiction potential scale. To analyze the research model, the structural equation model was used.

The findings showed that anxiety sensitivity and sense of coherence had a direct and significant effect on readiness to use substances. Additionally, difficulty in regulating emotions played a significant mediating role in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and sense of coherence with readiness to use substances. In general, the results showed that the research model had good fit.

The obtained results show that individuals who are more inclined to use substances exhibit higher levels of anxiety sensitivity and have difficulty regulating emotions, while also demonstrating a lower sense of coherence. Therefore, paying attention to these variables is particularly important in reducing students' susceptibility to substance use.