Beliefs and attitudes towards drug use, psychological hardiness, and self-esteem among adolescents in northwestern Syria

OBJECTIVES: To identify associations between drug use and both self-esteem and psychological hardiness among adolescents in northwestern Syria. METHODS: Adolescents from various schools in northwestern Syria and Azaz were invited to participate. Participants were assessed for beliefs and attitudes towards drug use (using the Beliefs and Attitudes of Substance Abuse Inventory [BASAI]), psychological hardiness (using the Psychological Hardiness Scale), and self-esteem (using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale). RESULTS: = -0.451, p < 0.001) scores. Psychological hardiness was a significant predictor of BASAI scores (β = -0.404, B = -0.210, p < 0.001), whereas self-esteem was not (β = -0.090, B = -0.168, p = 0.094). CONCLUSION: Psychological hardiness is a potential predictor of drug use among adolescents with positive beliefs and attitudes towards substance use. The association may be stronger among male adolescents and high school students.