How is perceived social support linked to life satisfaction for individuals with substance-use disorders? The mediating role of resilience and positive affect

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) N.J.), 2022-05, Vol.41 (5), p.2719-2732
• Main Authors: Yang, Chunyu, Xia, Mengfan, Zhou, You
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affect (Psychology); Behavioral Science and Psychology; Drug addiction; Drug addicts; Psychological aspects; Psychology; Satisfaction; Social aspects; Social networks; Social Sciences; Social support; Substance use disorder
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-00783-4

This study was designed to analyze how perceived social support is correlated with life satisfaction through mediators of resilience and positive affect. A total of 397 Chinese individuals with substance-use disorders were asked to complete the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Structural Equation-Modeling (SEM) results indicated that resilience fully mediated the relationship between perceived social support and life satisfaction and also revealed that the paths from social support through resilience and positive affect to life satisfaction were significant, although positive affect was not found to mediate the link between social support and life satisfaction. Finally, a multiple group analysis indicated that females with high resilience scores were more likely to exhibit greater positive affect than males. This study offers a practical application for health professionals seeking to implement effective interventions and improve the well-being of individuals with substance-use disorders.