Substance use and its relationship with attachment and early maladaptive schemes in adolescents in Ecuador

Abstract

Given the scarcity of studies addressing substance consumption and its relationship with attachment styles and early maladaptiveschemas in adolescents, the present study is proposed. Aims of this study are to analyze the relationship among attachment styles,early maladaptive schemas, and substance use; test the predictive role of attachment styles on substance use; and observe themediating role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between attachment and substance use. The sample consisted of1533 adolescents from Ecuador (53.9% males) aged between 14 and 18 years (M = 15.76; SD = 1.25). The attachment styles of security, value to parental authority, parental permissiveness, parental interference, self-sufficiency and resentment against parents,childhood trauma, and family concern predict substance use (tobacco, alcohol, tranquilizers/sedatives or sleeping pills, hashishor marijuana, cocaine, GHB or liquid ecstasy, ecstasy, amphetamines/speed, hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants/volatiles), and themediating role of early maladaptive schemas is confirmed (explained variance up to 33.33%). Identifying risk or vulnerabilityfactors, such as attachment and early maladaptive schemas related to substance consumption, is especially relevant for designingand implementing preventive interventions in the adolescent population.