Life Satisfaction Among Chinese Drug Addicts: The Role of Affect and Social Support

• Date: 01 July 2019
• Author: Guoqiang Rui,Mingwang Chen,Xuena Huang,Qilong Cao,Chunlin Du
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042619827587
• Published date: 01 July 2019
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0022042619827587

Journal of Drug Issues

2019, Vol. 49(3) 423 –435

© The Author(s) 2019

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DOI: 10.1177/0022042619827587

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Article

Life Satisfaction Among Chinese

Drug Addicts: The Role of Affect

and Social Support

Qilong Cao1, Xuena Huang2, Mingwang Chen3,

Guoqiang Rui1, and Chunlin Du4

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the mediating and moderating roles of positive and

negative affect on the relationship between perceived social support and life satisfaction among

drug addicts in China. A sample of drug addicts (n = 513) were recruited from two compulsory

detoxification units in Nanjing. Participants completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived

Social Support (MPSS), the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Satisfaction

With Life Scale (SWLS). Correlations analyses revealed that perceived social support was

significantly associated with life satisfaction. Furthermore, mediation analysis indicated that both

positive affect and negative affect partially mediated the influence of perceived social support

on life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis for testing moderating effect showed that

only positive affect served as a moderator on the relationship between perceived social support

and life satisfaction. These findings might provide a more comprehensive understanding of the

overall mental health among drug addicts.

Keywords

positive affect, negative affect, perceived social support, life satisfaction, drug addicts

Introduction

Illicit drug abuse is forbidden by most countries, including China. Over the past two decades in

China, rapid economic growth has been accompanied by a dramatic increase in drug misuse. The

number of registered drug users—defined as individuals with one or more criminal convictions

for drug misuse—increased from 2.1 million in 2012 (Zhang, Feng, Geng, Owens, & Xi, 2016)

to approximately 2.5 million by the end of 2016 (National Narcotics Control Commission of

China, 2017), and the death toll caused by serious complications from drug abuse extended

49,000 (China National Narcotics Control Commission, 2014). Besides physical health compli-

cations, drug addicts are also confronted with numerous mental problems, such as social anxiety,

depression, impulsion, schizophrenia, and other psychoses (Hershberger, Um & Cyders, 2017;

1Changzhou University, People’s Republic of China

2Liaoning University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China

3Tongii University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

4Hohai University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

Corresponding Author:

Qilong Cao, Business School, Changzhou University, No. 1 Gehu Road, Changzhou 213164, Jiangsu Province, People’s

Republic of China.

Email: cql1086@126.com

827587JODXXX10.1177/0022042619827587Journal of Drug IssuesCao et al.

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