Investigation of the correlation between perceived social support and attachment styles of adolescent smokers and non-smokers

This study was conducted descriptively and comparatively to evaluate the correlation between perceived social support and attachment styles of adolescent smokers and non-smokers in the 13-18 age group.The sample of the study consisted of a total of 500 adolescent. The data were collected by using a personal data collection information form and the Nicotine Dependence Scale, the Relationship Scales Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale. In the evaluation of the data, the normality of the data was tested and Mann-Whitney U Test, the chi-square test and correlation techniques were used. According to the data obtained from the study, it was found out that 53.4% of the students in the sample group did not smoke. It was determined that the scores of adolescent smokers in "Secure Attachment" and the scores of adolescent non-smokers in "Dismissive-Avoidant Attachment" are high, whereas the scores of adolescent smokers in "Expert Support" and the scores of adolescent non-smokers in "Family Support" are high. It was found out that there was a negative correlation between the friend support subscale in the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and the secure attachment subscale in the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, while there existed a positive correlation between the friend support subscale in the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale and the fearful-avoidant attachment subscale, the anxious-preoccupied avoidant attachment subscale and the dismissive-avoidant attachment in the Relationship Scales Questionnaire. A negative correlation was found between the family support subscale of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Nicotine Dependence Level Scale.