Impulsivity and family conflict as predictors of illegal psychoactive substance use in adolescents

Abstract

This research studied impulsiveness and family conflict as predictors of illegal psychoactive substance use. The objective of this research was to analyze the differences in impulsiveness and family conflict between high school student users and non-users of illegal psychoactive substances. A quantitative methodology through a cross-sectional, correlational study was carried out. A questionnaire composed by the Plutchik scale of impulsiveness, some items of the Climent, Aragón and Plutchik Scale of Impulsiveness, family conflicts subscale (included in the DUSI) and indicators to explore consumption of psychoactive substances. The sample was composed by 344 high school students from Veracruz, México. The results show that 9.0% have consumed illegal drugs, this group presented high impulsiveness in comparison with non-users. A correlation was found between family conflict, impulsiveness and use of psychoactive substances, it was also found that impulsiveness and risk taking were predictors of illegal drug use. The results show that it is necessary to design interventions that favor management of emotions and decision making in adolescents, as well as the participation of the family in substance use prevention programs.