The Mediating Role of Boredom and Mind Wandering in the Relationship Between Evolutionary Fitness and Tendency to Substance Use Among University Students

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse promotes a sense of self-perceived evolutionary ability by stimulating the cortico-mesolimbic in the brain. Although the relationship between substance use and evolutionary fitness has been demonstrated, the role of mediating variables that may contribute to the relationship between self-perceived evolutionary fitness and substance use is not clear yet. Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the relationship between self-perceived evolutionary fitness and the tendency to substance use and the mediating role of boredom and mind wandering in this relationship. Materials and Methods: This study was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population comprised of the students at state-run universities of medical sciences in Tehran. A sample of 200 students from Iran University of Medical Sciences was selected via convenience sampling. The Evolutionary Fitness Scale, Short Boredom Proneness Scale, the Maladaptive Daydreaming Scale and Addiction Potential Scale were used to gather the data. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and structural equation path analysis in SPSS 20 and Lisrel 8.80. Results: A significant negative correlation was found between evolutionary fitness and addiction potential (r = -0.75). The proposed model showed the direct effect factor of evolutionary fitness on addiction potential (β = -0.50, t = 7.90), boredom (β = -0.71, t = -14.12), and mind wandering (β = -0.46, t = -7.28). Moreover, the direct effect factor of boredom (β = 0.37, t = 5.94) and mind wandering (β = -0.02, t = -0.47) for addiction potential was established. Conclusions: Poor evolutionary fitness starts mind wandering about fitness-related issues. Eventually, this wandering leads to the unpleasant sense of boredom. Taking drugs artificially and temporarily increases evolutionary fitness and reduces one’s sense of boredom.