Original Article

Self-Efficacy Against Substance Abuse Risk: A Study on Vocational School Students

Özge Kutlu,Dilan Erkan,Sevinç Sütlü
2025, 9(1), s:16-30

DOI : -

Objective: Although substance addiction is a significant problem that is widespread among young people and threatens public health, it is seen that the protective factors related to the issue have not been examined sufficiently. This study aimed to determine the self-efficacy of vocational school students regarding protection from substance addiction and related factors.
Method: The research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. The research was conducted with 506 students studying at a vocational school. In line with the purpose of the research, “Personal Information Form” and “Substance Addiction Protection Self-Efficacy Scale” were used as data collection tools. Frequency distribution and variance analysis were used in the analysis of the data.
Results: 77.5% of the 506 participants who participated in the research were female and 22.5% were male. A statistically significant relationship was found between the participants’ self-efficacy regarding protection from substance addiction and the variables of gender, age, program of study and place of residence (p<0.005).
Conclusion: In order to increase the self-efficacy of vocational school students in protecting themselves from substance addiction, a course on combating addiction should be added to the curriculum, structured early intervention programs should be developed, and student communities and social support mechanisms should be strengthened.


Original Article

Investıgatıon Of The Relatıonshıp Between Secondary School Students' Exam Anxıety Levels And Smartphone Addıctıon

Azize TÜRKOĞLU,Cemal Onur NOYAN
2025, 9(1), s:5-15

DOI : -

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between exam anxiety levels and smartphone addiction levels of secondary school students.
Method: This study was designed using the relational survey model from quantitative methods. The population of the study consists of students studying at the secondary school level in Istanbul between 2023-2024. The sample of the study consists of 417 students selected by simple random sampling method. In the study, Personal Information Form was used to evaluate demographic characteristics, ‘Westside Test Anxiety Scale’ was used to measure the level of test anxiety and ‘Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form’ was used to measure the level of smartphone addiction. The research data were analysed using SPSS 27.00 package programme.
Findings: It was determined that there was a positive, weak-medium significant relationship between test anxiety levels of secondary school students and smartphone addiction. In addition, it was determined that there was a significant relationship between test anxiety level and gender, parental attitude, school achievement, parents' attitude towards success, and duration of smartphone use. It was determined that there is a significant relationship between smartphone addiction and time alone, duration of smartphone use, school achievement, parents' attitude towards success.
Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between test anxiety and smartphone addiction in adolescent secondary school students. This indicates that there is a need for prevention studies and psychoeducation for students, teachers and parents in secondary schools for test anxiety and smartphone addiction.


Review Article

A holistic review of fentanyl use and its impact on public health

ALEJANDRO BORREGO-RUIZ
2024, 8(2), s:23-33

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that was engineered to provide a potent analgesic effect, with its medical utility widely established in clinical contexts such as pain management and anesthesia. Fentanyl use has become a critical public health issue due to diversion for misuse and to rapidly proliferation of illicit manufacturing. This persistent increase in illicitly manufactured fentanyl distribution shows no indication of decline, raising significant concerns regarding its impact on public health and opioid misuse trends, including a dramatic increase in overdose deaths. Moreover, individuals from socially or economically precarious backgrounds, as well as those suffering from mental health disorders, are particularly vulnerable, as limited access to resources and support systems can lead to increased substance use as a coping mechanism for stress and adversity. Therefore, the objective of this narrative review is to provide a holistic overview on fentanyl, addressing its synthesis process, pharmacology and clinical use, relationship with gut microbiome, epidemiology and global distribution, patterns of use and motivations, and overdose treatment. For this purpose, current and relevant evidence on fentanyl and its correlates has been conscientiously assessed and outlined.


Original Article

Bibliometric Analysis of Theses Conducted about Alcohol Use Disorder in Turkey

HATİCE OKSAL,ÖMER BÜBER,HANDE TUĞÇE DEMİRCİ
2024, 8(2), s:14-22

Objective: Alcohol use disorder is a common public health issue that negatively affects an individual's quality of life, as well as their physical, psychological, and social well-being. The aim of the study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of postgraduate studies on alcohol use disorder in Turkey between the years 2008-2024. Method: This study is a descriptive scanning research conducted using bibliometric analysis methods. Searches were conducted separately in the National Thesis Center database using the keywords "alcohol use disorder," "alcohol dependence," "alcoholism," and "alcohol abuse." The inclusion criteria were determined as the theses being open access and including human samples. Based on these criteria, a total of 200 theses constituted the sample for the analysis. Findings: In the study, it was determined that the theses on alcohol use disorder were mostly master's level, quantitative and cross-sectional. It was determined that the highest number of theses were published in Ege University, and the departments that studied the subject the most were psychiatry, psychology and nursing. The most frequently used scale in the theses was found to be the Michigan Alcohol Screening Scale. Conclusion: The data obtained are largely in line with the studies in the literature. Using longitudinal and qualitative methods together in theses can provide more detailed information about alcohol use disorder. In future research, it may be useful for different disciplines to work together in order to provide innovative solutions to problems. 


Original Article

Strengthening the Awareness Levels of University Students Regarding Substance Use

AYŞEGÜL DUMAN,HİLAL ÇERKEZOĞLU,SALİH GÜLEN
2024, 8(2), s:10-13

The widespread use of substances in society requires various precautions to be taken and our youth to be made aware of this issue. It is important to educate young people (18-25 age group) who start university on these issues and to determine their substance use awareness levels and train them if necessary. For these reasons, the aim of the research is to strengthen the substance use awareness levels of university students. In this context, the research, which was conducted with a pre-posttest experimental and control group experimental design, lasted six weeks. The data collected using the Determination of Awareness Levels of University Students Towards Substance Use Scale was analyzed by applying T-test with the help of SPSS package program. According to the obtained data; it can be said that the “Addiction Awareness Program” implemented to strengthen the awareness levels of university students towards substance use produced positive results on the experimental group. It is recommended that programs that strengthen substance abuse awareness, such as addiction awareness programs, be provided to young people.


Review Article

Substance Addiction In Adolescents And The Role Of The Family: A Mini Review

ÖZKAN EZGİ,KARABURUN MERVE,KABA AYŞE,DURMUŞ ELİF,EMLU HAKAN,KABA FATİH,FİDAN ENİSE KÜBRA
2024, 8(2), s:5-9

Substance addiction is one of the important problems threatening society today. Although it causes negative consequences in the person's life, it makes the process more dangerous as the person develops tolerance and desires the substance more. Adolescence is considered a risky period in substance addiction, where psychological, sociocultural and genetic factors play a role, and many factors such as the biological, psychological and environmental conditions of the adolescent determine the development processes of substance addiction. At this point, the family plays a role in the child's social and cognitive development and is seen as an important factor in the process of developing substance addiction. Lack of family functionality can lead to aggression and anti-social behavior disorder, and as a result, delinquency and substance use behaviors may occur in the adolescent. In this study, the role of the family in adolescents' development of substance addiction will be discussed.


Original Article

The Turkish Adaptation, Validity And Reliability Study Of The Beliefs About Thirdhand Smoke Scale

Tuğba Yılmaz,Zühal Albayrak,Tijen Acar
2024, 8(1), s:45-51

Objective: Thirdhand smoke is an important public health problem. The aim of this study is to adapt the ‘‘Beliefs About ThirdHand Smoke’’ scale developed by Haardorfer et al to Turkish, to examine its validity and reliability.

Method: This methodological study was conducted in Ankara between 01.05-29.6.2021. Turkish version of the original scale “Beliefs About ThirdHand Smoke Scale’’ was obtained firstly. For the scale validity and reliability analyzes were performed: For content validity expert views were received, for construct validity confirmatory factor analysis; for reliability internal consistency, intra-class correlation were performed. Voluntary 256 adults who applied to polyclinics of Kecioren Training and Research Hospital, spoke Turkish, communicated, smoked or living at least one person who smoked, “socyodemographic features form” and Turkish version of  the original scale “Beliefs About Third Hand Smoke Scale’’ was applied face to face. The data analysis used IBM SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 21.

Results: Turkish adaptation of the original scale “Beliefs About Third Hand Smoke Scale’’ is 9 items, 2 factors. The content validity index for all items Turkish version of  the original scale “Beliefs About Thirdhand Smoke Scale’’ is ≥0.80; there is inter-expert fit. Cronbach's alpha values overall/factors are 0.910/0.849, 0.835 respectively; scale is high reliable, factors are  acceptably reliable. Item-total correlation is 0.580-0.794; each item is acceptably distinctive, should remain at scale. Intra-class correlation, inter-items correlation matrix r values are 0.376-0.771; items are related intermediately, internally consistent. Confirmatory factor analysis goodness-of-fit values, CMIN/df=3,1, RMSEA=0,091, RMR=0,054, GFI=0,946, AGFI=0,889, NFI=0,953, CFI=0,967; two-factor structure of the scale well-fitting to the data was confirmed.

Conclusion: Turkish adaptation of the original scale developed by Haardorfer et al in 2017 “Beliefs About Thirdhand Smoke Scale’’ is a reliable and valid measurement tool.

Turkish version of  the original scale “Beliefs About Thirdhand Smoke Scale’’ can applied in studies and trainings, increase awareness of the thirdhand smoke and guide the fight against tobacco.


Original Article

The Relationship Between Tobacco Use And Difficulty In Emotion Regulation And Psychological Well-Being Levels Examining The Relationship

İrem Teke Bulut,Ceylan Ergül Arslan
2024, 8(1), s:34-44

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to Decipher the relationship between the emotion regulation difficulty levels and psychological well-being levels of individuals who use tobacco.

Method: The study group of this study was composed of people between the ages of 18-65 Dec. The research data were collected by reaching 212 people virtually through a survey. The data were sent to the participants online with the ‘Sociodemographic Information Form’ prepared by the researcher, the ‘Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale’ (DERS) and the ‘Psychological Well-Being Scale’ (PWB) scales and they were asked to answer and the answers were evaluated and collected.

Results: Within the scope of the study, the data of 212 participants who smoked were examined. The sociodemographic variables of the participants were compared with their emotion regulation difficulties and psychological well-being levels. In addition, the relationship between emotion regulation difficulties and psychological well-being levels of smokers was examined. According to the findings obtained in the study, significant differences were found in the scores of psychological well-being and difficulties in emotion regulation in terms of gender, marital status, employment status, income level, psychological disorder, presence of a smoker in the family, reason for smoking.

Conclusion: In addition, a negative, moderate and significant relationship was found between psychological well-being and difficulty in regulating emotion in smokers.  The total score of emotion regulation difficulty predicts psychological well-being scores negatively and significantly. The model explains the variance by 14%. According to the findings regarding the prediction of psychological well-being scores by sub-dimensions of emotion regulation difficulties, it was found that difficulty scores in developing emotion regulation strategies predicted psychological well-being scores negatively and significantly. The model explains the variance at a rate of 16%.


Review Article

Psychology-Related Factors Of Internet Addiction: Literature Review

Eda Deligöz
2024, 8(1), s:28-33


Review Article

Gambling Disorder

Ceyda ŞİŞMAN ÜNLÜ,Cemal Onur NOYAN
2024, 8(1), s:20-27

Gambling Disorder is a clinical picture characterized by repetitive and persistent gambling behavior. Gambling Disorder is the first and only non-substance-related behavioral addiction in the DSM-5 due to its neurobiological and clinical commonalities with alcohol and substance use disorders. When we examine Gambling Disorder from a neurobiological and neurocognitive perspective, neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine and glutamate are thought to be effective in the development of the disease. From a neurocognitive perspective, Gambling Disorder is based on behavioral conditioning with positive reinforcers, value attribution, impulsivity and impairments in decision-making processes. If an individual adopts gambling behavior as a coping mechanism for negative life events, this behavior continues to increase over time. Increasing gambling behavior over time weakens the individual's self-control capacity and leads to the continuation of gambling behavior despite the negative consequences. This vicious cycle contributes to the exacerbation of the disorder by causing problems in work, family, academic and social areas. Gambling Disorder, although initially a seemingly harmless behavior, can turn into addiction depending on the balance of underlying predisposing and protective factors.