Basic Needs Satisfaction And Substance Craving Among Youths: The Moderating Role Of Core Self-Evaluation.

Abstract

This study examined the moderating role of self-efficacy and self-esteem in the relation between basic needs and substance craving among youths .Participants comprised 300 undergraduate students that included 160 males and 140 females. They ranged from 16 to 35 years (M= 19.34, SD= 7.89). The participants were selected from two higher institutions in Enugu State. The higher institutions were Enugu State University of Science and Technology and Godfrey Okoye University Enugu. A four-step multistage sampling design was applied to select participants for the study and a questionnaire comprising demographic information and four step likert scale was used to collect data for the study. The study adopted a cross-sectional design and moderated hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between each dimension of the basic need satisfaction and substance craving. The findings of the study revealed that relatedness and autonomy positively predicted substance craving, while competence negatively predicted substance craving. The findings also show that CSE (self-esteem and self-efficacy) moderated the relationship between all the dimensions of BNS studied and substance craving. Useful implications of the study and conclusion were made. One of the implications made was: the study relayed to clinicians the importance of the need for social skill training among substance craving patients. In conclusion, basic need satisfaction plays a significant role in a person’s tendency to manifest craving for substances, while people who have high levels of self efficacy and self esteem may not lean towards substance craving and addiction. The researcher recommended the introduction of psycho-education on substance abuse as a mandatory course in the university.