Predicting Tendency Toward Substance Use Based on Cognitive Fusion and Internalized Shame: The Mediating Role of Impostorism Among Substance-Dependent Individuals Receiving Maintenance Treatment
Keywords:
Substance use tendency, cognitive fusion, internalized shame, inauthenticity, maintenance treatmentAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to predict tendency toward substance use based on cognitive fusion and internalized shame, considering the mediating role of impostorism among substance-dependent individuals receiving maintenance treatment in Qazvin.
Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational design based on structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of substance-dependent individuals receiving maintenance treatment at Tavana and Negin outpatient substance use disorder clinics in Qazvin during May–July 2026, of whom 196 participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Weed and Butcher Addiction Potential Scale, Gillanders Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire, Cook Internalized Shame Scale, and Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale. Pearson correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, path analysis, and bootstrapping were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 26.
Findings: Cognitive fusion (β=0.291), internalized shame (β=0.268), and impostorism (β=0.322) had significant positive direct effects on tendency toward substance use. Cognitive fusion (β=0.369) and internalized shame (β=0.352) also had significant positive effects on impostorism. Bootstrap analysis indicated that impostorism significantly mediated the association between cognitive fusion and tendency toward substance use, with an indirect effect of 0.119, as well as the association between internalized shame and tendency toward substance use, with an indirect effect of 0.113. The proposed model explained 26% of the variance in impostorism and 39% of the variance in tendency toward substance use.
Conclusion: Cognitive fusion and internalized shame appear to contribute to greater tendency toward substance use both directly and indirectly through increased impostorism among individuals receiving maintenance treatment. Accordingly, complementary psychological interventions targeting cognitive fusion, internalized shame, and maladaptive self-evaluative processes associated with impostorism may enhance maintenance-treatment programs and help reduce psychological vulnerability to continued or recurrent substance use.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Irandoust (Author); Afsaneh Sobhi
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