The Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Resilience in Preventing Relapse Among Methadone-Treated Addicts

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived social support, resilience, and relapse prevention among methadone-treated individuals.

Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 150 methadone-treated individuals attending addiction treatment centers in Tehran between February and May 2024. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. Inclusion criteria included being under methadone treatment, aged between 20 and 55 years, not receiving specialized psychotherapy sessions, and providing written informed consent. Data collection tools included the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and the Relapse Prevention Scale. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used for statistical analysis, conducted using SPSS version 20.

Findings: Descriptive results indicated that resilience had the lowest mean score (M = 3.28, SD = 0.25) among the main study variables. Pearson correlation analysis showed that perceived social support had a significant positive correlation with relapse prevention (r = 0.62, p = 0.001). Similarly, resilience was positively associated with relapse prevention (r = 0.58, p = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived social support (B = 0.43, p = 0.001) and resilience (B = 0.37, p = 0.003) significantly predicted relapse prevention, with an adjusted R² of 0.59, indicating that these variables explained 59% of the variance in relapse prevention.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the crucial role of perceived social support and resilience in preventing relapse among methadone-treated individuals. Interventions aimed at strengthening social support systems and enhancing resilience can be effective in improving treatment outcomes and reducing the likelihood of relapse.