Prescription and Non-Prescription Anxiolytic Use is Linked to Personal Characteristics Among University Students

Mental health promotion and substance use prevention are essential issues at universities worldwide. Although research has identified risk and protective factors for substance use generally among college students, there is a paucity of knowledge about anxiolytic use. Thus, the main objective of this study was to analyze if prescription and non-prescription anxiolytic use was related to self-control, self-esteem and self-efficacy. A cross-sectional study design included 1,687 undergraduate students (<i>M</i>_<i>age</i> = 20.30 years; <i>SD</i> = 2.76) at a Spanish university. Validated instruments were administrated for data collection, under the supervision of a research team member. Descriptive analyses showed that almost 12% of the sample reports prescription anxiolytic use and more than 6% of non-prescription anxiolytic use in the last 6 months. There were considerable differences between genders, with females reporting higher consumption. Linear regression analyses showed that low self-control and low self-esteem predicted both prescription and non-prescription anxiolytic use. Being female predicted only non-prescription anxiolytic use. Considering these findings, strategies to improve self-control and self-efficacy among university students could be a successful element preventing or decreasing anxiolytic use and misuse.