Variables affecting high school students' childhood traumatic experiences and their attitudes to substance use individuals

This study was carried out as a descriptive study to determine the variables that affect the childhood traumatic experiences of high school students with their parental attitudes and attitudes towards individuals who use substances. The population of the research consisted of 643 students studying in high schools affiliated to the Ministry of National Education in Muş between September and December 2020. Research data were collected using the 'Personal Information Form', 'Parental Attitude Scale (ABTO)', 'Childhood Traumas (CTS)', and 'Attitude Scale towards Individuals Using Addictive Substances (BYM-TO)'. The data were evaluated by using SPSS number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Kruskal Wallis test, Mann Whitney U test analysis. It was determined that 75% of the students participating in the study were male, 44.9% had sufficient economic status, 31.4% had a primary school graduate and 35.3% had a mother who was illiterate. The total score averages of the ABTS subscales; acceptance/attention was 28.85±4.47, psychological autonomy was 21.24±4.69, supervision/control was 27.33±4.74, CTQ total score average was 44.89±10.93, and KIM-TO total score average was 84.14±17.74. It was determined that the students' childhood trauma experiences were low, their attitudes towards individuals using addictive substances were positive, and that the students perceived the most acceptance/interest from their parents' attitudes, followed by supervision/control and psychological autonomy, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between CTRS, ABTO, and BYM-TO according to gender, class variable, family type, maternal education level, smoking, alcohol, and daily internet use (p<0.05). According to these results, it is recommended to plan psychoeducational studies by determining the variables affecting the traumatic childhood experiences, parental attitudes and attitudes towards individuals who use substance in the high school period when substance use is most common. Keywords: High school students, childhood traumas, parental attitudes, attitudes towards individuals using addictive substances.