Early Life Distress, Contentment in Relationship and Mental Health in Drug Addicts

Abstract

This research aimed to study early life distress, contentment in relationship and mental health in drug addicts. The correlational study consisted of drug addicts N=200 from various government and private rehabilitation centers with age range 18 – above (M=29.4, SD=8.4) through non probability purposive sampling. The measurement tools Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect), Relationship Satisfaction Scale, and Mental Health Continuum Scale (emotional wellbeing, social wellbeing, and physical wellbeing) in addition to the demographic information sheet were used. Independent sample t-test analysis showed that drug addicts from joint family experienced more trauma, sexual abuse, and emotional neglect during early life, in comparison with nuclear family system. One way ANOVA revealed birth order had no effect on early life distress, contentment in relationship, and mental health. The results of the current study represented an important extension of prior findings and present empirical research provided grounds to more studies in future.