Locus of Control And Personality Traits Of Male Substance Abusers and Non Abusers

Abstract

Objective. The present study aimed to assess and compare personality traits and locus of control of substance
abusers and male non-Abusers.
Design: Retrospective study.
Place and Duration of the Study: The male substance abusers were taken from two drug treatment centers of
Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Nijiat Markaz and sunny trust Bahara Kahu, and 50 male non- abusers were taken from general community January 2004 to April 2004.
Subject and Method: The sample consisted of 100 males, 50 male Abusers and 50 males’ non-abusers.
The abusers and non abusers were selected through non-probability, purposive sampling technique. Rotter’s
Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (1966) (Urdu Translation), 16 Personality Factor Test (16PF, 1949) ( Urdu
Translation) were used in study along with demographic sheet.
Results: The age range of male substance abusers and non-abusers was from 18 to 50 years, educated up to
intermediate level. The age range of alcohol, opium and cannabis abusers was between 26 to 36 years, where as the heroin and poly drug-abuser ages were ranging between 37 to 50 years. Most of the substance abusers were using heroin and poly drugs. The results indicated that male substance abusers scored lower than non abusers on personality traits of Openness to change(t=7.360,P<0.01),Self
reliance(t=12.21,df=49,P<0.01),Perfectionism(t=11.79,df=49,P<0.01)and Tension (t=16.4,df=49,P<0.01).
Substance abusers significantly scored higher on external locus of control (t=7.50, DF=49, P=.000).
Conclusion: Substance abusers had accentuated specific personality traits which makes them different from non abusers. Moreover, substance abusers seem to be more influenced by environmental cues. Locus of control
orientation is an important parameter which has effect on thought, behavior and actions.
KEY WORDS: Drug dependence, Personality traits, Locus of Control