Substance Use and Feelings of Self-determination of Summer Students at Bahir Dar University

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence rate of substance use behaviors: the relationship between substance use and their feelings of self-determination and the difference between substance users and non users in their feelings of self-determination. Based on a cross sectional quantitative study, the study took a sample of 155 (males = 104 and females = 51) of Bahir Dar University summer students aged between 20 and 30 years (Mean = 24.26, SD= 2.147). The data were collected through questionnaire aiming at measuring the extent of students‟ substance use behaviors, basic psychological needs satisfaction and academic self-regulation. Accordingly, the findings showed that the prevalence rates of alcohol, khat and cigarette use among the participants were 50.97%, 50.32% and 27.71% respectively. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient indicated statistically significant positive relationship between khat use and feeling of relatedness need satisfaction, r = .165, p = .041, and statistically significant negative correlation between cigarette smoking and integrated regulation, r = -.175, P = .030. Analysis of t-test also revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between alcohol users and non- users in their relation to feelings of integrated regulation, t (153) = -3.56, p < .001,95% CI [-.57, -.16], and between cigarette smokers and non-smokers in relation to identified regulation, t (153) = -2.19, p = .030, 95% CI - .50, -.03], and integrated regulation, t (153) = -2.49, p = .014, 95% CI [-.51, -.06]. It was concluded that alcohol and cigarette use behaviors seemed to negatively affect summer young adult students‟ feelings of self-determination.