The Relationship between Parenting Styles and Tendency for Drug Use: The Mediating Role of Impulsivity

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between parenting styles and tendency for drug use by considering the mediating role of impulsivity. Method: The research method was descriptive-correlational of structural equation type. The statistical population of the study included the students of Hakim Sabzevari University in 2018-2019 (n=7248). To select the sample, stratified random sampling method was used and 376 students (216 girls and 160 boys) were selected. The research instruments included the impulsivity questionnaire, the addiction potential scale, and the parenting styles scale. Structural equation method was used to analyze the data. Results: The fit indices of the research model were in good condition. Parenting styles had a significant direct effect on tendency for drug use in students. Impulsivity also significantly mediated the relationship between parenting styles and tendency for drug use. Conclusion: The findings of the study indicated a good fit of the conceptual model of the research. It is suggested that impulsivity and parenting styles be considered as a major axis in the diagnosis of various clinical disorders such as tendency for drug use.