The relationship of self-esteem, mood state, and conflict management style to the rehabilitation of male narcotic addicts
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Abstract
Previous research on the rehabilitation of narcotic addicts has focused predominantly on presenting theoretical frameworks to characterize the malfunctioning of addicted persons. Perspectives which have been utilized include attention to the influences of self-esteem, psychodynamic, socio-cultural, familial, and biological variables. Moreover, little work has been devoted to empirically investigating the factors related to the rehabilitation of narcotic addicts. Self-esteem, mood, and conflict management skills were three variables independently identified that influenced one's likelihood to commit to drug rehabilitation. The present study examined both the individual and joint relations of these variables to time in treatment.
Within 10 days of admission to the drug rehabilitation program, thirty-eight subjects were given the Self Assessment Scale, the Profile of Mood States, and the Conflict Tactics Scale. Background data including age, educational level, age onset of drug use, drugs of choice, and history of previous drug rehabilitation were also collected.
Subjects who completed the program had the lowest Overall Self-esteem, as well as the lowest Well Being and Social Sources scores. There were no significant relationships between treatment duration, and Anger and Depression. Conflict management skills were also unrelated to duration in treatment.
When the combined influences of Overall Self-esteem, and selected POMS and CTS variables were examined, it was found that overall Self-esteem was the only predictor that accounted for a significant proportion of time in treatment variance. The POMS variable, Tension, made the second greatest contribution. Yet, it was not statistically significant. The CTS variables accounted for a minimal proportion of the variance. These findings supported the univariate results.
The implication of this research is that it may be useful to investigate the relationship of self-esteem using post-treatment, and longitudinal studies in order to identify the effect of treatment on this variable. Additionally, an initial examination of self-esteem may be beneficial in identifying subjects "at risk" for premature termination of drug rehabilitation efforts.
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Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Boston University
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