SUBSTANCE ABUSE, WORK TYPE AND GENDER AS PREDICTORS OF LIFE SATISFACTION AMONG SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN IMO STATE

Abstract

This study investigated substance abuse, work type and gender as predictors of life satisfaction among school dropouts in Imo State. Five hypotheses were postulated and tested. Two hundred and ninety-nine (182 male & 117 female) school dropouts were selected through convenience sampling technique. Participants' age ranged between 24-49 years with a mean age of 32.19 (SD= 7.19). Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and Life Satisfaction Inventory were used for data collection. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design and Hierarchical Multiple Regression was used to analyze data. Result revealed that tobacco abuse was a significant predictor of life  dissatisfaction among school dropouts while alcohol abuse, cannabis abuse, work type and gender did not predict life satisfaction among school dropouts in Imo State. Discussions were made in line with the findings and existing literature. An important recommendation of the study is that counselors, researchers and other stakeholders should organize workshops and seminars to teach school dropouts the negative effects of tobacco abuse and it's negative impact on their life satisfaction.