Locus of Control and Gender Influence on Relapse Avoidance Among Drug-Dependent Adolescents

Taiye Esther Omisola-Adebisi; Adebayo O. Adejumo; Uthman T. Jamiu; Dare A. Fagbenro; Timileyin M. Fashola

doi:10.26740/jptt.v16n03.p281-289

Authors

Taiye Esther Omisola-Adebisi Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan
Adebayo O. Adejumo Department of Psychology, University of Ibadan
Uthman T. Jamiu Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University
Dare A. Fagbenro Department of Psychology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin
Timileyin M. Fashola University of the Western Cape, Bellville

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26740/jptt.v16n03.p281-289

Keywords:

Drug-dependent adolescents, gender, locus of control, relapse avoidance ability

Abstract

Background: In Nigeria, few studies have investigated relapse avoidance ability and its antecedents among young adolescents. Objective: This study examined the role of locus of control and the influence of gender on relapse avoidance among adolescents undergoing treatment for substance use at the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was employed to purposively select a sample of 344 adolescents (288 males and 56 females) using the adolescent relapse coping questionnaire and the Terry Pettijohn Locus of Control Scale for data collection. Results: Results indicated that Internal locus of control showed a positive effect (β = .17, p < .01), while external locus of control had a stronger influence (β = .25, p < .01) on relapse avoidance, together, they accounted for R²=.11%. No gender differences exist with relapse avoidance t(344) = -1.09 95% CI (-23.06, 6.61), p>.05). Conclusion: The study concluded that adolescents’ sense of control, rather than gender, plays a central role in relapse avoidance.

Abstrak

Latar Belakang: Di Nigeria, hanya sedikit penelitian yang telah meneliti kemampuan relapse avoidance ability dan faktor-faktor yang memengaruhinya di kalangan remaja muda. Tujuan: Penelitian ini menelaah peran locus of control dan pengaruh gender terhadap kemampuan menghindari kekambuhan pada remaja yang menjalani perawatan penyalahgunaan zat di salah satu rumah sakit, Yaba, Negara Bagian Lagos, Nigeria.
Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross-sectional survey design dengan teknik purposive sampling untuk memilih sampel sebanyak 344 remaja. Data dikumpulkan menggunakan Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire dan Terry Pettijohn Locus of Control Scale. Hasil: Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa internal locus of control memiliki pengaruh positif (β = .17, p < .01), sedangkan external locus of control memiliki pengaruh yang lebih kuat (β = .25, p < .01) terhadap kemampuan menghindari kekambuhan. Secara bersama-sama, kedua variabel tersebut menjelaskan R² = .11%. Tidak ditemukan perbedaan berdasarkan gender terhadap kemampuan menghindari kekambuhan t(344) = -1.09, 95% CI (-23.06, 6.61), p > .05. Kesimpulan: Sense of control pada remaja lebih berperan dibandingkan faktor gender dalam kemampuan menghindari kekambuhan.

References

Ajayi, O. C., Esangbedo, A. E., Lawal, A. A., Ojo, T. I., Gbadegesin, A. O., & Olusegun, J. O. (2025). Relapse rates and admission correlates among patients admitted for a substance use disorder to the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Yaba: A retrospective cross-sectional study. Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 34(1), 30–37. https://doi.org/10.4103/njm.njm_92_24

Bavojdan, M. R., Towhidi, A., & Rahmati, A. (2011). The relationship between mental health and general self-efficacy beliefs, coping strategies and locus of control in male drug abusers. Addiction & Health, 3(3–4), 111–118. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24494125/

Becker, J. B., McClellan, M., & Reed, B. G. (2016). Sociocultural context for sex differences in addiction. Addiction Biology, 21(5), 1052–1059. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12383

Caputo, A. (2019). Addiction, locus of control and health status: A study on patients with substance use disorder in recovery settings. Journal of Substance Use, 24(6), 609–613. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2019.1632948

Fagbenro, D. A., Idemudia, E. S., & Boehnke, K. (2025). Relationship between perceived material living conditions and subjective health and wellbeing as moderated by personal attributes in a representative sample of Nigerians. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1530302. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1530302

Fashola, T. M., Adebisi, T. E., Ibrahim, L., & Obisesan, O. A. (2025). Socio-environmental predictors of substance abuse among out-of-school adolescents. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e13447. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113447

Fernandes, L., & Mokwena, K. (2016). The role of locus of control in nyaope addiction treatment. South African Family Practice, 58(4), 153–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2016.1223794

Fisher, R. A. (1925). Statistical methods for research workers (14th ed.). Hafner.

Furzer, B., Rebar, A., Dimmock, J. A., More, A., Thornton, A. L., & Wright, K. (2021). Exercise is medicine… when you enjoy it: Exercise enjoyment, relapse prevention efficacy, and health outcomes for youth within a drug and alcohol treatment service. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 52, 101800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101800

Gachara, G., Wasanga, C., & Olaly, W. (2019). Relationship between locus of control and adherence to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings among persons recovering from substance abuse in Nairobi County, Kenya. International Journal of Education and Research, 7(6), 23–36.

Gaolaolwe, W., Moagi, M. M., Kovane, G. P., & Sehularo, L. A. (2025). A substance use relapse prevention programme for youth with substance use problems in Botswana. Health SA Gesondheid, 30, a2965. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v30i0.2965

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.

Israel, U. N., Aroyewun, B. A., & Obi, L. (2024). Locus of control and impulsivity as correlates of substance use disorder among outpatients in a psychiatric hospital. IFE PsychologIA: An International Journal, 32(1), 30–39.

Kalungi, H., Kamacooko, O., Lunkuse, J. F., Namutebi, J., Naluwooza, R., Price, M. A., & Mayanja, Y. (2024). Prevalence and factors associated with illicit drug and high-risk alcohol use among adolescents living in urban slums of Kampala, Uganda. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 1709. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19250-x

Lawal, A., Abdullahi, B., Olorukooba, A., Hamza, K., Usman, U., Abdulkadir, A., ... & Abubakar, A. (2025). Prevalence and factors associated with substance abuse among adolescents in public and private secondary schools in Katsina State, Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 25(1), 531. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21739-y

Linquist, D. (2013). Locus of control, self-efficacy, and spiritual coping style among members of Alcoholics Anonymous (Master’s thesis). University of San Francisco.

Lipari, R., & Van Horn, S. (2017). The CBHSQ report: Children living with parents who have a substance use disorder. SAMHSA. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_3223/ShortReport-3223.pdf

Lopes-Rosa, R., Kessler, F. P., Pianca, T. G., Guimarães, L., Ferronato, P., & Pagnussat, E. (2017). Predictors of early relapse among adolescent crack users. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 36(2), 136–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2017.1295670

Malik, N. I., Saleem, S., Ullah, I., Rehan, S. T., De Berardis, D., & Atta, M. (2023). Psychosocial factors affecting drug relapse among youth in Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(7), 2686. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12072686

Malinao, D. (2024). A concurrent analysis of drug relapse risk, drug avoidance self-efficacy, and aftercare experiences among aftercare program clients. Technium Social Science Journal, 57, 134–182.

Minero, V., Best, D., Brown, L., Patton, D., & Vanderplasschen, W. (2022). Differences in addiction and recovery gains according to gender: Gender barriers and specific differences in overall strengths growth. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 17(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-022-00444-8

Muzingili, T., & Taruvinga, R. (2025). Gender as a predictor of relapse risk after adolescent drug and substance rehabilitation in Zimbabwe: A survival analysis approach. Journal of Substance Use, 30(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2025.2516517

Myers, M. G., & Brown, S. A. (1996). The Adolescent Relapse Coping Questionnaire: Psychometric validation. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57(1), 40–46. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.1996.57.40

Nath, A., Choudhari, S. G., & Dakhode, S. U. (2022). Substance abuse amongst adolescents: An issue of public health significance. Cureus, 14(11), e31193. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.31193

Nielsen, A. L., Scarpitti, F. R., & Inciardi, J. A. (1996). Integrating the therapeutic community and work release for drug-involved offenders: The CREST program. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 13(4), 349–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0740-5472(96)00112-2

Okonkwo, C. C., Onyedibe, M. C., Okeke, A. N., & Agoha, B. C. (2020). Prevalence and socio-demographic factors of relapse among patients with substance use disorder in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Psychology Research, 16(1), 1–8.

Patel, N., Sharma, H., Mahida, A., & Mistry, H. (2022). Relationship of alcohol use pattern with locus of control and impulsivity: A cross-sectional study in hospitalized alcohol use disorder patients in Western India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 11(3), 987–993. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1181_21

Pettijohn, T. F. (1992). Psychology: A concise introduction. Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.

Podsakoff, P. M., & Organ, D. W. (1986). Self-reports in organizational research: Problems and prospects. Journal of Management, 12(4), 531–544. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920638601200408

Rotter, J. B. (1966). Generalized expectancies for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological Monographs: General and Applied, 80(1), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0092976

Sanni, M., Bolu-Steve, N., Durosaro, A., & Adigun, A. (2021). Prevalence of drug relapse among clients in rehabilitation centres in North Central Nigeria: Implications for school counsellors. Canadian Journal of Family and Youth, 13(2), 14–25.

Silverman, M. J. (2010). The effect of a lyric analysis intervention on withdrawal symptoms and locus of control in patients on a detoxification unit: A randomized effectiveness study. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 37(3), 197–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2010.04.001

Singh, A., & Singh, D. (2011). Personality characteristics, locus of control and hostility among alcoholics and non-alcoholics. International Journal of Psychological Studies, 3(1), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijps.v3n1p99

Sliedrecht, W., de Waart, R., Witkiewitz, K., & Roozen, H. G. (2019). Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: A systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 278, 97–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.05.038

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2014). World drug report 2014. United Nations Publications.

Wade, G. (2023). Minimum sample size estimation: The inverse square root and gamma‐exponential methods. Information Systems Journal, 28(1), 227–261