University students' expression of emotions over the levels of substance use tendency

The primary aim to be reached out in this study was whether students at the tertiary level shared significant differences in expressing their affect based on their tendency to use a substance. In addition, it accentuated on examining whether there is a significant difference between expressing positive and negative affect and their tendency of substance abuse in terms of some particular socio-demographic features. The participants in this research included 756 students from eight different universities, selected through convenience sampling. The research used the survey model aptly through the Substance Abuse Proclivity Scale (SAP, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Personal Information Form (PAIF) to gather the data. The data collection tools have already been applied to tertiary-level students. As a result, it was found out that the mean of negative affect scores of the tertiary level students' tendency over a higher level of substance abuse showed a significant difference comparing that of the tertiary level students tendency over the lower level of substance abuse. The negative affect score means differentiated significantly based on the gender variable. The positive affect score means between the female and male students with a lower level of substance abuse were significantly different. Besides, the positive affect score mean of female students with a lower level of substance abuse was found to be significantly at a lower level comparing that of male students with a higher level of substance abuse. While there was no significant difference among students' positive affect scores regarding their smoking habits, the confounding impact on the variables of tendency level of substance abuse and smoking habits over negative affect score had significant results. In terms of residency variable, there was not a significant difference among students' positive affects; however, it showed a significant difference among their negative affect scores. According to the fact that whether they have had some psychiatric illnesses, those students' positive affect scores did not differentiate; however, it again showed a significant difference among their negative affect scores. There was a significant difference among their positive affect scores based on whether some students had chronic illnesses. Based on the fact that whether students have had a relationship for more than a year, students' both positive and negative affect scores were found to differentiate. Based on their perceived parental attitudes, there was no significant difference among those students' positive affect score means; however, there was a significant difference among their negative affect score means. There was a significant difference between their positive and negative affect scores based on the students' personality types, such as introvert or extrovert. While there was a significant difference in the students' positive affective scores based on their perceived level of academic success, there was no significant difference among their negative affect scores. The research findings were discussed and interpreted with the relevant research findings in the literature. In the light of the research results, various suggestions were presented to researchers, experts and policymakers. Key Words: Substance, Tendency, Substance abuse, Affect, Positive affect, Negative affect