Psychological and socio-structural determinants of intentions to use drug checking services

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Version of Record (VoR)

Author(s)
Piatkowski, Timothy
Hamilton, Kyra
Hagger, Martin S
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2025
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract

This study explored the determinants of intentions to use drug checking services among Australian undergraduate students (N = 324, M age = 22.32 years, SD = 7.21) using an integrated theoretical model that includes social cognition constructs (risk perception, subjective norms, attitudes), health and drug literacy, and socio-structural factors (education, race, employment). A cross-sectional correlational survey design and path analysis revealed that social cognition constructs directly influenced drug checking intentions, while drug literacy and socio-structural variables indirectly influenced intentions through these constructs. Notably, race had a negative indirect effect, while drug and health literacy had a positive indirect effect on intentions. The findings highlight the importance of utility beliefs, perceived risks, and social influences in shaping intentions to use drug checking services. These insights offer a foundation for future behavioral interventions targeting belief-based determinants to promote the use of drug checking services, potentially reducing health risks associated with drug use.

Journal Title

Journal of Health Psychology

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).

Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advance online version.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Applied and developmental psychology

Clinical and health psychology

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Piatkowski, T; Hamilton, K; Hagger, MS, Psychological and socio-structural determinants of intentions to use drug checking services, Journal of Health Psychology, 2025

Collections