Explaining the structural model of the tendency toward substance abuse based on childhood trauma in adolescents: the mediating roles of self-compassion and mentalization

The aim of the present study was to explain a structural model of the tendency toward substance abuse based on childhood trauma in adolescents, mediated by roles of self-compassion and mentalization. The statistical population included all high school students(boys and girls) in the second stage of secondary education in Mashhad city during the ۲۰۲۳-۲۰۲۴ academic year, with ۳۶۰ students selected as the sample through multi-stage cluster random sampling. To measure the research variables, the Tendency Toward Substance Abuse Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, and the Self-Compassion Scale for Adolescents were used. The research method was descriptive-correlational using structural equation modeling (SEM). Data were analyzed using SPSS۲۵ and AMOS۲۴ software. The findings indicated a significant relationship between childhood trauma and the tendency toward substance abuse, which is mediated by self-compassion, certainty mentalization, and uncertainty mentalization. Based on these results, it is recommended that focusing on improving certainty mentalization capacity and self-compassion in adolescents who have experienced childhood trauma could be an effective approach to prevent substance abuse and promote their mental health.

کلیدواژه ها:

Tendency Toward Substance Abuse ، childhood trauma ، Self-compassion ، Mentalization ، adolescents