Interrelations Between Patients’ Personal Life Events, Psychosocial Distress, and Substance Use

Abstract

This study investigated interrelations between life events, psychosocial distress, self-efficacy, and substance use among patients manifesting substance use disorders. Gender differences in these interrelations were also explored. Patients (N = 352) were recruited during 2008 and 2009 from 16 Norwegian facilities. These patients completed a questionnaire with validated measurement instruments. Interrelations were investigated by SEM analysis. The results suggested that negative life events facilitated substance use and psychological distress. Positive life events were associated with self-efficacy, but weakly related to substance use. The results supported the notion that males are more prone to use substances when faced upon negative life events.

RÉSUMÉ

Les interrelations entre les événements de la vie personnelle des patients, de la détresse psychologique et la toxicomanie

Cette étude a porté sur les interrelations entre les événements de la vie, la détresse psychosociale, l’auto-efficacité et l’utilisation de substances chez les patients présentant des troubles de toxicomanie. Différences entre les sexes dans ces interactions ont également été explorées. Les patients (N = 352) ont été recrutés en 2008 et 2009 de 16 installations norvégien. Ces patients ont rempli un questionnaire validé avec les instruments de mesure. Les interrelations ont été étudiées par SEM-analyse. Les résultats suggèrent que des événements négatifs facilité l’usage de substances et de détresse psychologique. Événements de vie positifs ont été associés à l’auto-efficacité, mais faiblement liés à la toxicomanie. Les résultats appuient la notion que les hommes sont plus enclins à utiliser des substances lorsqu’ils sont confrontés à des événements négatifs

RESUMEN

Las interrelaciones entre los acontecimientos de los pacientes la vida personal, problemas psicosociales y el uso de sustancias

Este estudio investigó las relaciones entre los eventos de vida, trastornos psicosociales, autoeficacia y el consumo de sustancias (psicoátivas) en pacientes con trastornos por dicho consumo. También se analizaron las diferencias de género en éstas interrelaciones. Los pacientes (N = 352) fueron reclutados durante 2008 y 2009 en 16 instalaciones de Noruega. Estos pacientes completaron un cuestionario validado con instrumentos de medición. Las Interrelaciones fueron investigadas a través de un análisis SEM. Los resultados sugieren que los acontecimientos negativos de la vida facilita el consumo de sustancias y los trastornos psicológicos. Acontecimientos de la vida positivos se asocian con la auto-eficacia, pero débilmente relacionado con el consumo. Los resultados apoyan la noción de que los varones son más propensos a utilizar sustancias cuando se enfrentan a acontecimientos vitales negativos.

Keywords :

• life events
• interpersonal problems
• psychological distress
• self-efficacy
• gender
• substance addiction

THE AUTHORS

Trond Nordfjærn, M.Sc. in Psychology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2006). His master's thesis was about cross cultural comparisons in risk taking attitudes and behavior. It was based on data collected in Norway and Ghana. He is currently a doctoral student and has financial grants for a doctoral scholarship from The Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Central Norway for the time period 2008–2011. The core aim of his doctoral work is to investigate correlates of substance addiction, relapse, and psychosocial well-being among patients with substance use disorders in the Central region of Norway. Nordfjærn has a growing number of scientific papers and conference presentations related to substance addiction and risk related activities.

Reidar Hole is the profession manager in The Drug and Alcohol Treatment in Central Norway. He has an extensive clinical background and experience. Hole has a graduate degree in clinical psychology (Cand.Psychol.) and is a specialist in clinical psychology. He has since the early 1990s worked as a clinical psychologist, chief psychologist, and manager within treatment units for substance addiction disorders. He also developed and established the Opioid Maintenance Treatment (OMT) unit in the Central Region of Norway. Hole was alsothe executive manager of this facility from 1998 until he started in the position as the profession manager in 2005.

Torbjørn Rundmo has a graduate degree in clinical psychology (Cand.Psychol.) from the University of Bergen (1983) and a doctoral degree (Dr.Philos.) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (1993). He is also a doctor of honour (Dr.Phil. h.c.) at Stockholm School of Economics (2005) for his research on risk and safety. Rundmo is an appointed member of The Academy of The Royal Norwegian Society of Science and Letters where he is also the Head of the Section for Psychology and Educational Research (2009–2011). Since 1999 he is Professor of Community Psychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and has also been Professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at the same University. Rundmo has also been Associate Professor in Social Psychology and Health Psychology, Research Scientist at The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim and Research Officer at Institute of Transport Economics in Oslo. His list of publications includes about 300 scientific works.

Notes

1 The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

2 The reader is referred to Hills’ criteria for causation which were developed in order to help assist researchers and clinicians determine if risk factors were causes of a particular disease or outcomes or merely associated. (Hill, 1965)