BACKGROUND: The non-medical use of stimulants for academic performance enhancement is becoming a more common practice among college and university students. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of students' intention to use stimulant medication for the purpose of enhancing their academic performance. Based on an extended model of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, we examined the predictive value of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, psychological distress, procrastination, substance use, and alcohol use on students' intention to use stimulants to improve their academic performance. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3,589 Flemish university and college students (mean age: 21.59, SD: 4.09), who participated anonymously in an online survey conducted in March and April 2013. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationships among the study variables. RESULTS: Our results indicate that subjective norm is the strongest predictor of students' intention to use stimulant medication, followed by attitude and perceived behavioral control. To a lesser extent, procrastinating tendencies, psychological distress, and substance abuse contribute to students' intention. Conclusions/ Importance: Based on these findings, we provide several recommendations on how to curtail students' intention to use stimulant medication for the purpose of improving their academic performance. In addition, we urge researchers to identify other psychological variables that might be related to students' intention.
BACKGROUND: The non-medical use of stimulants for academic performance enhancement is becoming a more common practice among college and university students. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of students' intention to use stimulant medication for the purpose of enhancing their academic performance. Based on an extended model of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior, we examined the predictive value of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, psychological distress, procrastination, substance use, and alcohol use on students' intention to use stimulants to improve their academic performance. METHODS: The sample consisted of 3,589 Flemish university and college students (mean age: 21.59, SD: 4.09), who participated anonymously in an online survey conducted in March and April 2013. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the relationships among the study variables. RESULTS: Our results indicate that subjective norm is the strongest predictor of students' intention to use stimulant medication, followed by attitude and perceived behavioral control. To a lesser extent, procrastinating tendencies, psychological distress, and substance abuse contribute to students' intention. Conclusions/ Importance: Based on these findings, we provide several recommendations on how to curtail students' intention to use stimulant medication for the purpose of improving their academic performance. In addition, we urge researchers to identify other psychological variables that might be related to students' intention.
Entities:
Keywords:
academic performance enhancement; college students; intention to use stimulants; non-medical prescription drug use; stimulant medication abuse
Authors: Patricia A Goodhines; Lea E Taylor; Michelle J Zaso; Kevin M Antshel; Aesoon Park Journal: Subst Use Misuse Date: 2020-08-04 Impact factor: 2.164
Authors: Melissa M Ross; Amelia M Arria; Jessica P Brown; C Daniel Mullins; Jason Schiffman; Linda Simoni-Wastila; Susan dosReis Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2017-12-06 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Henry N Young; Farah Pathan; Jaxk H Reeves; Kristen N Knight; FuNing Chen; Elizabeth D Cox; Megan A Moreno Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2019-10-29