Child and adolescent substance metacognition functions and depression examination

This study was conducted to examine metacognitive functions and depression on child and adolescent substance addicts. The population of the study consisted of 160 patients diagnosed with substance use disorder, who were treated at a Child and Adolescent Substance Addiction Treatment Center in a city in Turkey, between January 1, 2022 and August 31, 2022, open to communication and cooperation, and fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The sample of the study was determined as 101 individuals with a 95% confidence interval and a 5% margin of error using the Epi Info Program. The study was completed with 102 individuals. Personal Information Form, Children's Depression Scale (CDI) and Metacognition Scale Child and Adolescent Form (MCQ-CE) developed by the researchers were used to collect data. Percentage, median values, standard deviation, arithmetic mean, t test, ANOVA test, Tukey test, Pearson Product Moments Correlation and Sperman Rank Correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data. In this study, the mean CDS total score was 24.17±9.11; The mean MCQ-CE total score was found to be 63.75±11.67. There was no significant relationship between Child Depression Scale and Child Adolescent Form of Metacognition Scale (p>0.05). A positive and significant correlation was found between CDI and MCQ-C negative meta-anxiety sub-dimension (p<0.05). A negative and significant correlation was found between the CLI and the MCQ-C positive meta-anxiety sub-dimension (p<0.05). As a result, it was determined that children and adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorder had impaired metacognition and high levels of depression. It is recommended to conduct research on depression and metacognitive functions in larger sample groups in children and adolescents diagnosed with substance use disorders, and that nurses add measures to reduce depression and improve metacognitive functions to their holistic care plan.