Comparison of communication skills, problem solving skills, self-awareness, decision making skills, and family health among substance addicts and healthy people in Isfahan city, Iran, 2017

Abstract

Background: Substance abuse is one of the most common social problems in societies. In order to perform preventing actions, it is essential to consider the condition of substance abusers along with standard drug therapy. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the status of life skills and family health among substance abusers, and compare it with healthy cases. Methods: This study was performed on 240 cases (120 individuals in each group). After obtaining consent from individuals and recording demographic data, life skills were measured based on the ten dimensions of life skills according to World Health Organization, and family health based on Family-of-Origin Scale. Chi-square, Student t, and ANCOVA tests were used to compare the data. Findings: Subjects with a history of substance abuse were significantly less educated (P < 0.001), unemployed (P < 0.001), with poorly educated spouses (P < 0.001), and homemakers (P < 0.001). On the other hand, family health, and life skills and subscales (self-awareness skills, communication skills, decision-making skills, and problem solving skills) were significantly lower in the addicts compared to healthy people (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Family function determines and affects its member's physical, social, mental, and moral health, and an unhealthy family has long-term and widespread outcomes on its members. Considering the low score of life skills in people with a history of substance abuse, and the role of these skills in increasing individual and social abilities, it is necessary to codify interventions to educate these patients. © 2018, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.