The relationship between self-efficacy, coping skill and substance use in adolescent: based on structural equation modeling

Background: This study was aimed to investigate interrelationships between the self-efficacy and coping skill in relation to substance use behavior in adolescent. Method: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 720 girls and boys, aged between 14 and 18, involved in the cross-sectional study in Iran. In the first step, first-order measurement models were examined to assess how well the observed measures could reflect the latent constructs and in the second step, the structural component consisting of relationships between the latent factors was examined to determine the theoretical factors of the coping and self-efficacy predicted substance use behavior, as hypothesized. Result: The results of the first step revealed stable assessment of four confirmed factors in the first-order measurement model. In second step, the structural model of coping and self-efficacy showed an acceptable adequacy in predicting substance use behavior in the second-order model. Direct and indirect path analysis demonstrated that relationship between refusal self efficacy and substance use would be mediated by the coping skill, and this relationship could significantly predict substance use behavior in our study. Conclusion: The results of our hypothesized model of coping self-efficacy (CSE) had an acceptable adequacy in predicting substance use behavior in adolescents.