Non-Medical Prescription Stimulant Use in Graduate Students: Relationship With Academic Self-Efficacy and Psychological Variables

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

9-1-2016

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine graduate students’ non-medical use of prescription stimulant medication, and the relationship between non-medical use of prescription stimulants with academic self-efficacy, psychological factors (i.e., anxiety, depression, and stress), and internal restlessness. Method: The sample consisted of 807 graduate students from universities located in five geographic regions of the United States. Results: Past-year rates of self-reported non-medical use were determined to be 5.9%, with overall lifetime prevalence of 17.5%. Observed self-reported non-medical use of prescription stimulant medications was significantly correlated with self-reported levels of anxiety and stress, various aspects of internal restlessness, and perceived safety of the medications. Conclusion: Findings support graduate students’ motivations of non-medical prescription stimulant use to be both academic and social in nature. Effective prevention and education efforts are needed to help address the non-medical use of prescription stimulants by graduate students on university campuses.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Attention Disorders

Volume

20

Issue

9

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