The Loneliness due to Stigmatization among Male Patients with Substance Use Disorder

Salaam  Abbas; Shahid  Iqbal; Washdev  Washdev; Shahkamal  Hashmi

doi:10.29054/apmc/2021.1197

Salaam Abbas Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Zia-Ud-Din University, Karachi Pakistan
Shahid Iqbal Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Abdul Haq Campus, Karachi Pakistan
Washdev Washdev Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavior Sciences, Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
Shahkamal Hashmi Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29054/apmc/2021.1197

Keywords: Stigma, Loneliness, Substance use, Mental health, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Loneliness due to stigma in patients with substance use disorder leads a number of mental health issues. Discrimination secondary to substance use disorder leads to loneliness, impairing the person’s quality of life and wellbeing. Objective: The objective of current study was to measure impact of stigma on loneliness in male patients with substance use disorder in Karachi, Pakistan. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Settings: Research was carried out at Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi Pakistan. Duration: Two years & six months from July 01, 2018 to December 31, 2020. Methods: One hundred male drug addicts (users of Depressant, Stimulants, Hallucinogens, Opioid and others) were included in this study. The age of patients ranged between 20 to 40 years with matriculation as minimum level of education. Data was collected from different drug treatment and rehabilitation centers located in Karachi, Pakistan. Through paramedical staff of that particular drug treatment centre, participants were approached and psychological measures were administered. In order to measure variable of this study Substance Abuse Self-Stigma Scale (SASSS by Luoma, Raye, Kohlenberg and Hayes (2013) and Gierveld and Tilburg (1999) loneliness scale were used. After data collection, descriptive and inferential statistics (i.e., linear regression) was used to calculate the results. Results: Results show that stigmatization is a strong predictor of loneliness and the p values is (p <.05). Furthermore, implications and limitations of the study will also be highlighted. Conclusion: Study significantly concluded that stigmatization is a strong predictor of loneliness.