Date of Conferral
2020
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Nursing
Advisor
Janice Long
Abstract
Mental health problems are a major public health concern and may be associated with substance use among youth. Youth who receive inadequate social support are at risk of experiencing mental health problems and engaging in substance use. The purpose of this study, guided by the relational regulation theory of social support and the self-medication theory, was to determine whether there was an association between mental health problems, social support, and substance abuse among middle school (MS) and high school (HS) students and whether this association varies with age, using secondary data from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey This study addressed whether a relationship existed between mental health problems and substance use, between mental health problems and social support, and between substance use and social support in youth who are in MS and HS. Data were downloaded into SPSS for analysis after approvals from IRB were obtained. Logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between mental health variables, substance use, and social support. The results showed that there is a statistically significant association between mental health problems and substance use, mental health problems and social support, and substance use and social support. By evaluating the association between mental health problems, substance use, and social support in HS and MS students, focused interventions may be developed by providers and teachers. As providers and teachers gain insight into the influence of social support and substance use on mental health problems in MS and HS students, improvements in social support may provide for positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Gray, Venida, "Association Between Mental Health problems, Substance Use, and Social Support in Youth" (2020). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 8897.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8897
