Citation

Locke GW, Shilkret R, Everett JE, Petry NM. Subst. Abuse 2014; 36(1): 113-118.

Affiliation

a Smith College School for Social Work , Northampton , MA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/08897077.2014.885482

PMID

24579980

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The college years are a time for developing independence and separating from one's family, and they are also a time in which substance use often escalates. This study examined the relationships between use of substances and interpersonal guilt, an emotion that can arise from feelings about separation among college students. METHODS: In total, 1,865 college students completed a survey evaluating substance use and interpersonal guilt. Regular users of alcohol, cigarettes, cannabis, and other illicit drugs were compared with non-regular users of each substance. Sequential linear regression, controlling for confounding variables, examined relationships between regular use of each substance and scores on a guilt index. RESULTS: Risky drinkers and daily smokers had significantly more interpersonal guilt than their peers who did not regularly use these substances. In contrast, regular cannabis users had significantly less guilt than non-regular cannabis users. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that substance use among college students may be related to interpersonal guilt and family separation issues, and this relationship may vary across substances.

Language: en