Relationship Between Assertion and Aggression with Addiction Potential: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2019

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the relationship between assertion and aggression with addiction potential among students in Shahroud University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2019, 500 students of Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, were selected by multistage random sampling, for a study using the Addiction Potential Scale, and Assertion and Aggression Questionnaires. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, Chisquare, t test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the linear regression model. Results: The mean scores of addiction potential, aggression, and assertion were 32.7 ± 17.2, 41.5 ± 12.9 and 139.4 ± 22.3, respectively. In this study, 38.8% (N = 194) of students had high aggression and 76.8% (N = 384) had high assertion. In the regression model, aggression, history of drug and addictive substances abuse, history of tobacco use, and history of alcohol abuse were significantly related to addiction potential (p ≤ 0.05). There was a negative relationship between assertion and addiction potential so that with oneunit increase in the assertion score, the addiction potential score decreased by-0.11. Conclusion: Given the direct relationship between aggression and addiction potential, and since more than three-quarters of the students had moderate to high aggression, it is necessary to pay more attention to this issue. Interventions may play an important role in improving the current situation.

Exploring the Influence of Parenting Style on Adolescents’ Maladaptive Game Use through Aggression and Self-Control

“…Hypothesis 3 states that children's self-control decreases their maladaptive game use [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57] and increases their life satisfaction [58][59][60][61]. On the contrary, Hypothesis 4 states that children's aggression increases their maladaptive game use [67,[69][70][71][72] and decreases their life satisfaction [74][75][76][77][78].…”

“…Aggression is a form of self-destructive behavior, which implies that aggression is an antecedent of problematic behaviors such as addiction [67,68]. Aggression has been widely identified as a predictor of addiction in various studies, including in a drug and alcohol abuse study conducted in Iran [67], a study on college students' aggression towards addiction, and a study on game use disorders of 263 Korean male adolescents [69]. Aggression is deeply related to online game addiction [70], especially to violent game preferences and excessive game use [71].…”

The Effectiveness of Life Skills Training on Assertiveness, Self-Esteem and Aggressive Behavior among Patients with Substance Use Disorders

“…This result was incongruent with Amiri et al,(2020), who reported that there was no significant relationship between aggression and residence. Amiri et al, (2020), who showed a significant relationship between the respondent's current residence, and assertiveness. While inconsistent with Maheshwari and Gill,(2015), who found that there was no relationship between residence and assertive behavior.…”

“…-Assertiveness refers to self-confident behavior that allows a person to act in accordance with their interests, express their true feelings without anxiety, and at the same time respect the rights of others (Amiri et al, 2020). Assertiveness in the present study was operationally defined as a substance abuser's ability to say no to requests one does not want to make and expressing needs, desires, thoughts, and feelings in a worthy and without anxiety away while respecting desires, thoughts, and feelings of others people.…”

“…They can use substances to suppress and overcome inner chaos. In addition, aggressive behavior is likely to cause individuals to be isolated by active peers, who have a logical and indifferent response to problems in life, so aggressive behavior may cause individuals to join abnormal groups that increase the likelihood of drug addiction (Amiri et al, 2020).…”