[The impact of social norm and susceptibility on drug use among adolescents].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of knowledge, attitude and perceived social norm on the use of New Type of Drugs (NTD) and to construct the mediated model among these factors.


METHODS
With stratified random group sampling, 3018 students from 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, 3 vocational high schools and a municipal-own university in Wuhan city completed questionnaires under anonymous and voluntary practice. A conceptual model was developed based on Reasoned Behavior Theory. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the proposed model.


RESULTS
The overall prevalent rate of NTD was 3.28%, with 4.81% for males, 1.94% for females,1.80% for middle school students, 2.91% for general high school students, 7.83% for vocational school students and 3.25% for college students. SEM seemed to have been fixed nicely into the model. Adolescent NTD was significantly predicted by knowledge, attitude, perceived social norm which were all directly affecting or medicated by the susceptibility of drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge, attitude, perceived social norm might increase the risks for NTD use among adolescents, suggesting that preventive education on drug use among adolescents should be paid to improve the knowledge on drugs.
Gong
Jie
J
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Zeng
Jing
J
Xingiang
Chen
C
Li
Fang
F
Zhou
Dun-jin
DJ
Wang
Zeng-zhen
ZZ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012945:Social Values; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*