Investigating the Potential Mediating Role of Social Support in the Relationship between Psychological Protective Factors and Resilience to Amphetamine Use among Thai Adolescents

Introduction: Amphetamine use among Thai adolescents poses significant public health challenges. Identifying mechanisms that boost resilience against amphetamine use is essential for effective prevention and intervention. This study examined how social support mediates the relationship between psychological protective factors and resilience to amphetamine use in Thai youth. Methods: Data from a 2014 to 2015 cross-sectional study aimed to develop a standardized instrument for assessing amphetamine use resistance among Thai adolescents. Purposive sampling included ages 12–24 years undergoing treatment for diagnosed amphetamine use disorder at four Thai drug addiction hospitals. General linear mediation modeling examined social support as a mediator between self-esteem, coping skills, and resilience to amphetamine use. Results: The mean age of 19.92 years (standard deviation: 2.76). Resilience to amphetamine use positively correlated with self-esteem, self-coping, friend support, and family support. Self-esteem had a significant total effect on resilience (β =0.2609, P < 0.001), partially mediated by family support (β =0.1232, P = 0.002), but not friend support (β = −0.0005, P = 0.977). Friend support positively correlated with resilience, but self-esteem had no significant relationship with friend support (a: β = −0.0016, P = 0.976). Coping skills significantly affected resilience (β =0.5717, P < 0.001), partially mediated by family and friend support. Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of considering psychological protective factors and social support when addressing resilience to amphetamine use among Thai adolescents. These results underscore the importance of comprehensive interventions targeting both psychological factors and social support systems to foster resilience in adolescents at risk of amphetamine use.