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ABSTRACT
Objective
This study aimed to develop and assess a tailored community-based intervention protocol for preventing substance use based on social cognitive theory in adolescents.
Methods
A tailored community-based substance use prevention intervention was undertaken with 140 boys and girls (14-18- years old) participating in the study in Isfahan, Iran. The intervention group attended eight 45-minute theory-based sessions based on social cognitive theory from 2018 to 2020. Data were analyzed 6, 18, and 24 months later by the SPSS.23 software.
Results
Social cognitive theory indicators, including positive outcome expectancies (p < .001, F = 25, ES = 0.34), negative outcomes expectancies (p < .001, F = 31.2, ES = 0.38), and self-efficacy (p < .001, F = 12.3, ES = 0.45) showed significant improvements at three stages (6, 18, and 24 months after intervention). The program also demonstrated significant but low effect size reductions in the incidence of cigarette (ES = 0.15), alcohol (ES = 0.05), and other drug use (ES = 0.01) in the intervention group among three follow-ups.
Conclusion
The results support the effectiveness of the community-based intervention program based on social cognitive theory in reducing the incidence of substance use among Iranian adolescents.
Acknowledgments
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Municipal officials, and the City Council of Ghahjavarestan county are grateful for the material and spiritual support of this project and special thanks also go to all adolescents and their parents for participating in this project.
Disclosure statement
The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.