The Predictive Role of Self-Efficacy in Intention to Avoid Drug Abuse among Iraqi Secondary School Students
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Objective: The study aims to determine the association between self-efficacy and the intention to avoid drug abuse among Iraqi secondary school students, and to assess whether higher self-efficacy independently predicts stronger avoidance intention.
Methods and Materials: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 secondary school students from 12 schools in Al-Hilla City, Iraq, using a multistage sampling approach. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic information, the 10-item General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the 22-item Intention to Drug Avoidance Scale. Both scales were scored using a three-point Likert format. Reliability was acceptable, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.76 for the General Self-Efficacy Scale and 0.90 for the Intention to Drug Avoidance Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Findings: Most participants were aged 15–17 years (76.0%), and more than half were female (54.3%). High self-efficacy was reported by 69.3% of students, with a mean score of 24.84 ± 3.119. A high intention to avoid drug abuse was observed among 95.3% of students, with a mean score of 62.66 ± 6.313. Spearman’s correlation showed a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and intention to avoid drug abuse, r = .166, p = .004. Regression analysis indicated that self-efficacy significantly predicted intention to avoid drug abuse, β = .137, B = .277, SE = .121, t = 2.288, p = .023. The overall regression model was also significant, R = .228, R² = .052, adjusted R² = .045, F = 8.114, p < .001.
Conclusion: Self-efficacy was positively associated with and significantly predicted students’ intention to avoid drug abuse. Strengthening adolescents’ self-efficacy may be an important component of school-based substance abuse prevention programs.
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