The Mediating Role of Forgiveness and Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Treatment Motivation Among Malaysian Male Drug Addicts.

Loy See Mey,Rozainee Khairudin,Mohammad Rahim Kamaluddin,Tengku Elmi Azlina Tengku Muda,Hilwa Abdullah @ Mohd Nor

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816373

Loy See Mey, Rozainee Khairudin + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.816373

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Abstract

Studies have reported high rates of childhood maltreatment among individuals with drug addiction problems; however, investigation about the potentially protective factors to mitigate the effects of maltreatment experiences on motivation to engage in addiction treatment has received less attention. This study aims at exploring the mediating effects of forgiveness and self-efficacy on the association between childhood maltreatment and treatment motivation among drug addicts. A total of 360 male drug addicts (mean age = 33.34, SD = 7.25) were recruited from three mandatory inpatient rehabilitation centers in Malaysia. Participants completed a package of self-report questionnaires including measures of childhood maltreatment experiences, forgiveness, self-efficacy, and motivation for treatment. The analysis conducted using the structural equation model (SEM) revealed that childhood maltreatment significantly predicted lower treatment motivation, while forgiveness and self-efficacy played a fully mediating role regarding the effect of childhood maltreatment on treatment motivation. In conclusion, these findings suggest that combining the element of forgiveness and self-efficacy in treatment programs appears to benefit the drug addicts with childhood maltreatment history.

Highlights

Exposure to maltreatment during childhood has long been associated with an increased risk of subsequent psychological and behavioral problems across the human lifespan including mood disorders (Norman et al, 2012; Lippard and Nemeroff, 2020), depression (Dhamayanti et al, 2020), post-traumatic stress disorder (McLaughlin et al, 2017; Schuck and Widom, 2019), borderline personality disorder (Mainali et al, 2020), adult criminality (Minh et al, 2013; Kim et al, 2016), Childhood Maltreatment Among Drug Addicts and drug and substance abuse (Elwyn and Smith, 2013; Mandavia et al, 2016)
This study examined the potential variables that were deemed effective in reducing the negative emotions resulting from past adverse experiences in a healthy way
Both forgiveness and self-efficacy, which were considered as positive elements with a strong association with resilience (Srivastava, 2011; Kelly, 2018; Bikar et al, 2021), have been investigated for their mediating effects on the association between childhood maltreatment and treatment motivation in drug addicts

Summary

Introduction

Exposure to maltreatment during childhood has long been associated with an increased risk of subsequent psychological and behavioral problems across the human lifespan including mood disorders (Norman et al, 2012; Lippard and Nemeroff, 2020), depression (Dhamayanti et al, 2020), post-traumatic stress disorder (McLaughlin et al, 2017; Schuck and Widom, 2019), borderline personality disorder (Mainali et al, 2020), adult criminality (Minh et al, 2013; Kim et al, 2016), Childhood Maltreatment Among Drug Addicts and drug and substance abuse (Elwyn and Smith, 2013; Mandavia et al, 2016). Most studies on the effects of childhood maltreatment among drug addicts are often focused on behavioral consequences and psychological risk factors associated with maltreatment, yet less is known about how the experience of maltreatment in the early stage impacts the motivation among drug addicts entering substance abuse treatment, which can be considered as a significant factor to influence the treatment outcomes and service provision. Examining the etiologies, such as early maltreatment history that might explain the onset of drug use, would be essential for refining the existing treatment program that lacks tackling the issue of adverse experience, for drug addicts who have experienced adversity in early life. Interventions that can provide support to drug addicts’ unresolved childhood issues might help to increase their motivation to remain in treatment and further reduce their risk of relapse and improve their adaptive functioning after discharge from the rehabilitation center

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