Propensity for addictive behaviors among university students and its prevention

Abstract

Introduction. The study focuses on the problem of psychological and educational prevention of propensity for addictive behaviors among university students. The purpose of the article is to identify the dominant personality traits of students who are prone to addictive behavior, to outline the factors which determine this tendency, and to propose a prevention program aimed at activating personal resources to overcome the development of addictive behavior. Materials and methods. The research is based on the analysis and generalization of scientific and theoretical sources and experimental data in order to investigate the effectiveness of psychological and educational program implementation aimed at preventing addictive behaviors among university students. The study was conducted using the Smirnov’s addiction diagnostic questionnaire ODA-2010, R.Cattell’s 16 Personality Factors questionnaire, G. Shmishek’s questionnaire to identify types of character accentuations, the Eysenck's personality Inventory (EPI), the correlation analysis, the method of determining the significance of differences, and factor analysis. Results. The article reveals the psychological features students prone to addictive behaviors, analyzes psychological factors which determine the formation of this tendency, as well as discusses psychological and educational preventative potential of