Objectives: From the psychological point of view, coping strategies and attitudes have considerable effects on people's tendency towards risky behavior, including opioid substance abuse. Dysfunctional attitudes are attitudes and beliefs that predispose the individual toward depression and psychological disorder, generally speaking. Usually, people use three types of coping strategies when confronting stressful situations; problem-focused, emotion-focused and avoidance strategies. This study therefore aimed to compare dysfunctional attitudes and coping strategies in substance-dependent & healthy individuals. Methods: A causal-comparative study was conducted. The population under study consisted of 100 addicts attending Robat-Karim's addiction rehabilitation centers who were selected through simple random sampling. Another 100 ordinary individuals were matched with the addicts. The dysfunctional attitudes scale and the coping strategies questionnaire was used to collect data. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze data. Results: The two groups differed significantly in their dysfunctional attitudes and problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies. Substance-dependent individuals applied emotion-focused coping more and had greater dysfunctional attitudes than the healthy ones, and the latter applied problem-focused strategies more. Discussion: Based on our results, addicts have greater dysfunctional attitudes than non-addicts. Therefore, better treatment and rehabilitation results may be obtained by preparing grounds for appropriate psychological interventions and coping strategies in substance-dependent individuals.
Objectives: According to the gateway drug theory, tobacco use is a predisposing factor for future substance abuse. This study was conducted to compare nicotine and opiate dependents to identify the differences between their personality traits and psychopathology that makes them turn to other substances after cigarette smoking. Methods: A causal-comparative study was conducted. Three groups were randomly selected: nicotine dependents, opiate dependents and ordinary individuals (non-dependent population). Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence, Maudsley Addiction Profile, the Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used to collect data. Analysis of variance was used to analyze data. Results: Opiate dependents had higher 'novelty seeking' and lower 'cooperativeness' scores as compared to the other two groups. They also had higher anxiety and depression scores than the other two groups. Discussion: Higher 'novelty seeking' and lower 'cooperativeness' scores are important personality traits predicting future substance abuse.
Objectives: Adolescents are the most vulnerable group of the society when it comes to risky behaviors. As a consequence of their volatile behavior during adolescence they are more likely to behave in ways that threatens their ongoing physical and psychological health and their future. The current study was designed to examine the association between the emotional expressiveness style and addiction potential among male high school students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 male high school students that had been selected through multi-stage random sampling from Karaj city's at-risk high schools. The research tools consisted of: a) the researcher-made demographic questionnaire, b) addiction potential scale, c) emotional expressiveness questionnaire. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used for data analyzing. Results: Based on the results, emotional expressiveness and its components were negatively and significantly associated with addiction: 'expression of positive emotion' (p=0.001), 'expression of negative emotion' (p=0.001), and 'expression of intimacy' (p=0.001). 'Expression of positive emotion' plays a more significant role in predicting addiction potential. Addiction potential was significantly associated with familial economic status (p=0.024). Discussion: On the whole, our results underscore the significance of emotions and emotional expressiveness in predicting addiction potential in adolescents. Therefore, it is essential to educate adolescents during their schooling years to prevent this phenomenon.
