Perceived Self-Efficacy and Executive Function in Young Adult Substance Users in Accra

Abstract

Persons with executive dysfunction have difficulty planning, lack insight, are distractible, make poor decisions, and have little concern for social rules. Executive functions are needed to fulfill roles in family, work, and community life, and these deficits have a number of causes, one of which is the use of substances. A person’s efficacy perception has the tendency to lead to use of substances with the minimal challenges or distress in life. Individuals with low efficacy tend to subscribe to substances in order to have a feeling like their peers. Young Adulthood which marks a period of rapid development between childhood and adulthood involving complex social, biological, and psychological changes is when the urge to subscribe to substances is most critical and likely. These multidimensional factors have considerable implications for youth development in the diverse facets of their lives. 120 participants consisting of 40 substance users, 40 healthy/control group and 40 occasional users were sampled and used in this research. The primary goal of the study was to assess Executive Functions and the effects that are suffered by young adults who are substance users in relation to occasional users and non-users of substances. As well as the efficacy levels of the three groups of substance users. The study found poor performance on executive function tests(categories achieved on modified card sorting test) by substance users as compared to occasional and non-users of substances. It also found differences between perceived self-efficacy and categories achieved on the executive function test (Modified Card Sorting Test). Indicating an effect from use of substance.