The association between personality and intimacy in heroin dependence subjects

• Main Authors: Yi-Ling Cheng, 鄭伊伶
• Other Authors: Yuan-Hsiang Chu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/13203039067343648404

碩士 === 樹德科技大學 === 人類性學研究所 === 100 === Aim: The study sought to understand and compare the demographic distribution, personality, parenting, and mental health of heroin abusers and poly-substance abusers who receive methadone replacement treatment, and whether this treatment impacts satisfaction from intimate relationships of the subjects. Methods: This study implemented descriptive research methods through purposive sampling and comparative cases studies. These methods included the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPO), alexithymia, Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ )and an intimate relationship satisfaction scale. The study included 74 heroin abusers and 26 poly-substance abusers, but a few participants quit during the initial month, which reduced the total number of subjects to 70. Over a period of three months, the study conducted monthly follow-ups on the subjects’ intimate relationship satisfaction and used Generalized Estimating Equation Models (GEE-I)to understand the changes at different stages during the treatment. Result: The results indicated that poly-substance abusers demonstrate poorer mental health and more extroverted and paranoia tendencies; parental care was higher for heroin abusers while parental protection was more significant for poly-substance abusers; alexithymia was more evident in heroin abusers; and heroin abusers received methadone therapy showed significantly higher intimate relationship satisfaction (p<.05). Intimate relationship satisfaction had a moderate positive correlation (p<.05)with maternal care which high maternal care led to higher intimate relationship satisfaction. GEE statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between intimate relationship satisfaction and the length of treatment and whether the subject was a poly-substance abuser (p<.05). Conclusion: We found the imtimacy improved after the methdone replacement therapy, which is different with proveious finding of other studues. For future studies, increasing the number of subjects would be beneficial to corroborate the correlation between methadone replacement therapy and intimate relationship satisfaction and also allow for a more comprehensive implementation of related sex education.