title: Collegiate misuse of prescription stimulants: examining differences in self-worth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prescription stimulant medication is commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, stimulant medication misuse is a prevalent problem among the college population. There is limited research on psychological factors associated with collegiate nonmedical stimulant misuse.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between college students' self-worth and stimulant medication misuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative study implemented during the 2013-2014 academic year in which we utilized a convenience sample of undergraduate students at a public university. College students (N = 3,038) completed an electronic survey packet including a stimulant use index and the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale. We conducted descriptive discriminant analysis (DDA) to measure the associations between four groups: Nonusers, Appropriate Users, Nonprescribed Misusuers, and Prescribed Users.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in contingencies of self-worth existed between the four groups of students. Specifically, external contingencies of self-worth, such as appearance and approval, were associated with stimulant medication misuse, whereas, internal contingencies of self-worth, such as God's love and virtue, were associated with nonuse and appropriate prescribed use. Conclusions/Importance: The findings of the current study suggested contingencies of self-worth partially explain prescription stimulant misuse among the collegiate population. Addressing self-worth may be helpful in the treatment of stimulant misuse with college students.
authors.affiliation: Counseling and Higher Education, The University of North Texas , Denton, Texas , USA.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Prosek
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Reader
authors.forename: Cynthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bevly
authors.forename: Kori D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Yvette N
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: Ryan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.forename: Citlali E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Sage Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Garber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: College students; self-worth; stimulant misuse