Evaluation of Problem Solving Skills Training (P.S.S.T) on College Student's Perceived Behavioral Control against Psychoactive Drug abuse

Psychoactive drug abuse has been increased among Iranian young people in recent years thus producing health problems so requiring provision of educational preventive programs for this age group. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of problem solving skills training on college students’ perceived behavioral control against psychoactive drug abuse. A Pre-and-post nonequivalent control group design study was carried out. A total number of 140 students were selected through randomized cluster sampling and were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=70) and the control (n=70) groups. The data-gathering tool consisted of a self-report questionnaire assessing the variables of control beliefs and perceived power. After diagnostic evaluation, a problem solving skills promoting program was applied to persuade the participants against drug abuse. Respondents in the control and experimental groups completedquestionnaires at baseline and 2 months after the intervention. The result showed that educational manipulation had significant effect on the intervention group’s average response for perceived behavior control against psychoactive drug abuse (t=2.401, p<0.05). Also, perceived empowerment has more effectiveness of problem-solving skills training (t=4.218, p<0.05). These findings suggest that problem solving skills training would be an efficient tool for preventing drug abuse education programs among college students which must be added to comprehensive life skills programs.