Social cognitive theory as a theoretical framework to predict sustained abstinence 6 months after substance use treatment

Abstract

Backgrounds: A wide variety of factors such as individualistic and social/environmental factors appear to determine whether or not individuals can successfully quit substance use. In this study, Social Cognitive Theory was used as a theoretical framework to predict substance use abstinence among a sample of Iranian substance users.Methods: Data from 269 male substance users undergoing residential treatment were analyzed using logistic regression to assess the effects of socio-cognitive factors (treatment motivation, perceived social support, drug avoidance self-efficacy, and drug quitting outcome expectations) and background characteristics measured at 5-7days after admission on drug abstinence status measured at 6-month follow-up.Results: Abstinence rate after 6-month follow-up was 48.6. Perceived social support, treatment motivation, prior substance use treatment, and age of onset of substance use were predictors of abstinence. However, substance use treatment outcome was not influenced by drug avoidance self-efficacy, drug quitting outcome expectations, and demographic variables.Conclusion: Our findings do not support the notion that pretreatment drug avoidance self-efficacy and drug quitting outcome expectancies are among the most consistent predictors of substance use treatment outcome. Accordingly, future research is recommended to explore post-treatment levels of these variables on treatment outcome.