On the Relationship of Emotional Regulation and Negative Affect with Craving for Drug Use with the Mediating Role of Depression

The present study aimed at investigating the relationship of emotional regulation and negative affect with craving for drug use with the mediating role of depression.
This study was a correlational and structural research. The statistical population of this study included all the addicts hospitalized in addiction treatment centers in West Azerbaijan Province who had been admitted to the centers during the second six months of 2012 (N = 526). The number of 216 participants was selected using convenience sampling method from the population and responded to the questionnaires of Behavioural Brain System, Negative Affectivity of PANAS, Emotional Regulation Difficulties, Beck Depression Scale, and Drug Craving Scale.
The results of structural correlation analysis showed that the standard coefficients of the paths of emotional regulation difficulties to craving (β = 0.62); emotional regulation difficulties to depression (β = 0.35); the path of negative affects to craving (β = 0.59); the path of negative affects to depression (β = 0.41); and the path of depression to craving (β = 0.43) were statistically significant. In addition, the lower and upper limits of indirect pathways did not entail emotional regulation difficulties and negative affects to craving through zero depression, which indicates the significance of these indirect paths.
One of the main problems of the society is addiction and this problem has mostly involved the active people of the society; on the other hand, depression and emotional control play an important role in this problem. Hence; it is suggested that families and governmental agencies act more effectively in the prevention of behavioral disorders and that counseling centers be used for the treatment and training of life skills.