Relationship between childhood traumas and substance use among the senior students of A university

Childhood traumas, which affect individuals' psychopathological development and are considered to be risk factors for mental and physical disorders, posit a social problem with consequences on not only the individual or familial level but also on a societal level. The most common of the adversities caused by childhood traumas is substance and alcohol use disorder. Considering the increase in substance and alcohol use among the adolescent university students who undergo significant changes, this study is designed to investigate the relationship between childhood traumas of senior university students and substance use. Universe of the study consisted of 7030 senior students who were enrolled in Aydın Adnan Menderes University's some faculties and vocational schools at the main campus during the 2018-2019 academic year. Sample size was calculated using World Health Organization's Statcalc program utilized for population research. The necessary number of students revealed by the calculation (238) was increased by 40% due to potential data loss, and the study was conducted with a total number of 333 students. Data were collected through Personal Information Form, Childhood Traumas Questionnaire (CTQ), Addiction Profile Index Risk-Screening for Alcohol and Addiction Profile Risk-Screening Index for Substance and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Analysis of the relationship between sociodemographic data of the students and parental characteristics and childhood trauma questionnaire scores revealed a higher likelihood of being neglected or abused for students with siblings (one, two or more). Students whose parents are divorced or separated were also found to be more likely to experience neglect and abuse, compared to their peers whose parents are together and either one or both members of the couple are alive. According to student statement, students whose parents act oppressive and indifferent were found to experience more neglect and abuse than their counterparts whose parents' actions do not correspond to these qualities. Similarly, students with parents demonstrating a democratic approach were subject to less neglect and abuse than students of non-democratic parents. Finally, students whose parents are not overprotective were exposed to more neglect and abuse, compared to their peers whose parents were overprotective. Childhood traumas of senior university students had a weak positive correlation with alcohol use and smoking. The correlation between smoking and alcohol use was also found to be weakly positive. In the light of these findings, the relationship of early childhood neglect and abuse with other variables should be investigated by further studies. Furthermore, education programs targeting students, families, and school authorities should be developed for increasing abuse recognition and awareness of adverse effects of alcohol and substances. Finally, interventions for at-risk students should be conducted in collaboration with psychiatric nurses.