The relationship between the stress level and adverse childhood experiences and attitude towards substance use of university students

In this study, the aim was to evaluate the relationship between the stress level and adverse childhood experiences and attitude towards substance use of university students. The research was a descriptive research and included 484 university students. The data of the research was collected using Introductory Information Form, Attitude Scale for Cigarette Addiction, Attitude Scale for Alcohol Addiction and Attitude Scale for Drug Addiction, Childhood Mental Trauma Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale. In the analysis of research data, percentage, mean and standard deviation, and correlation analysis were used. The mean age of the students in this study was 19.62±2.12; 65.7% of them were women, 15.9% were smokers, and 12.8% drank alcohol. The mean PSS total score of the students was 28.07±7.66 and the mean CTQ total score of the students was 35.64 ± 10.87. There was a significant positive correlation found between CTQ and the advantages of smoking/alcohol/substance sub-dimensions of the sub-dimensions of cigarette/alcohol/ substance-related attitude scales and there was a significant negative correlation found between profile of smokers/alcohol/substance users, views on smoking/alcohol/substance use, harms of smoking/alcohol/substance use, and moral and religious views on smoking/alcohol/and substance use sub-dimension (p<0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between PSS total score and the sub-dimensions of smoking / alcohol advantages and there was a significant negative correlation between views on smoking/alcohol use and sub-dimension (p<0.05). It was determined that students perceived moderate stress and their childhood traumas were relatively low. As students' perceived stress level increases, their attitudes towards the disadvantages and harms of smoking and alcohol use also decrease. As adverse childhood experiences increase, the attitudes towards the disadvantages and harms of smoking / alcohol / substance use decrease. Childhood maltreatment and perceived stress can be considered as risk factors that leads to smoking, alcohol and substance use disorders in the youth period. Keywords: Stress, Attitude Towards Substance Use, Childhood Traumas, University Youth.