• Amanda L Giordano, Elizabeth A Prosek, Emily A Reader, Cynthia M Bevly, Kori D Turner, Yvette N LeBlanc, Ryan A Vera, Citlali E Molina, and Sage Ann Garber.
• Counseling and Higher Education, The University of North Texas , Denton, Texas , USA.
• Subst Use Misuse. 2015 Feb 1; 50 (3): 358-65.

BackgroundPrescription stimulant medication is commonly used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, stimulant medication misuse is a prevalent problem among the college population. There is limited research on psychological factors associated with collegiate nonmedical stimulant misuse.ObjectivesTo examine the association between college students' self-worth and stimulant medication misuse.MethodsA quantitative study implemented during the 2013-2014 academic year in which we utilized a convenience sample of undergraduate students at a public university. College students (N = 3,038) completed an electronic survey packet including a stimulant use index and the Contingencies of Self-Worth Scale. We conducted descriptive discriminant analysis (DDA) to measure the associations between four groups: Nonusers, Appropriate Users, Nonprescribed Misusuers, and Prescribed Users.ResultsSignificant differences in contingencies of self-worth existed between the four groups of students. Specifically, external contingencies of self-worth, such as appearance and approval, were associated with stimulant medication misuse, whereas, internal contingencies of self-worth, such as God's love and virtue, were associated with nonuse and appropriate prescribed use. Conclusions/Importance: The findings of the current study suggested contingencies of self-worth partially explain prescription stimulant misuse among the collegiate population. Addressing self-worth may be helpful in the treatment of stimulant misuse with college students.

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