Family Support as Moderator of the relation between Coping Skills and Substance Use Dependence among Filipinos who use drugs

• Main Authors: Sy, Tyrone Reden L, Hechanova, Ma. Regina
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2020
• Subjects: family support; moderator; substance use dependence; adults; Filipinos; life skills; Clinical Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/psychology-faculty-pubs/219; http://apssr.com/volume-20-no-1/family-support-as-moderator-of-the-relation-between-coping-skills-and-substance-use-dependence-among-filipinos-who-use-drugs/
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Vulnerability to substance use disorders (SUD) vary across individuals; however, there is scant evidence examining how family support is associated with coping skills and substance abuse, especially among adults. This study described how family support moderated the relationship between coping skills and substance abuse among Filipino adults who used drugs. The social influence theory on drug use was used to guide the analysis of data from 340 participants from the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad program, a voluntary outpatient substance abuse treatment program held in two cities in the Philippines. Participants answered a survey questionnaire measuring substance use dependence (SUD) symptoms, drug recovery skills, life skills, and perceived family support. Most of the participants were males and mostly used methamphetamine or shabu. Among those with SUD symptoms, moderation analysis showed that life skills were inversely associated with SUD symptoms. Family support moderated the relationship between life skills and SUD symptoms, suggesting that family support is most critical for those with lower life skills. The study concludes that life skills and family support are important factors that contribute to the treatment success among mild-risk persons who use drugs (PWUDs) in the Philippines and therefore need to be prioritized in treatment programs and health promotion initiatives.