The effectiveness of group counseling based on self-development resources on increasing the self-expression of recovering addicts

Master's Thesis in Family Counseling

Abstract:

This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of group counseling in the way of self-knowledge resources on increasing the self-expression of recovering addicts. The type of study is experimental studies. The statistical population of people undergoing rehabilitation in Tehran's Kamranieh Center were from Razi Psychiatric Hospital departments. 30 people were selected through purposive sampling and divided into two experimental groups and a control group. For the experimental group, group counseling sessions were conducted. In order to analyze the results at the descriptive level of mean and standard deviation indicators, and at the level of inferential statistics, the t-difference test was used to compare the self-expression scores of the two experimental and control groups. The analysis of the results showed that group counseling in the way of self-knowledge resources is significant for increasing the self-expression of recovering addicts at the P<0.01 level. Self-Expression of Existence-Restoration

Abstract

This study was to examine the effectiveness of group counseling based on self knowledge recourses on increasing assertiveness addicts in rehabilitation performed. The type of the study is experimental. Statistical population was patients undergoing rehabilitation at the Tehran Kamranye center of Razi Psychiatric Hospital. 30 individuals were selected through purposive sampling in experimental groups and control group. For the experimental group counseling sessions were performed. To analyze the results in the descriptive level mean and standard deviation were used and in inferential statistics level to compare the assertiveness both control and test T-difference (t-different) was used. The analysis showed that group counseling practices to increase their understanding of assertiveness addicts in rehabilitation at the level of P <0.01 was significant.

Keyword (s): The group counseling – self-knowledge resources - assertiveness – rehabilitation

One of the basic problems that today's society is facing is the problem of addiction. So that nowadays addiction is one of the serious problems in physical, mental and social health. This process inflicts significant blows on the moral, economic, and social foundations of a society and causes it to be dragged into corruption and degeneration from within.  In other words, no society is completely immune from this problem (Kajbaf, 2018). The most important psychological effects of addiction are: depression, anxiety, forgetfulness, psychosis, and brain disorders, but social problems caused by addiction can include crimes such as theft, prostitution, and violence, increase in false jobs and decrease in efficiency, and a large number of disturbed or broken families. (World Health Organization [1], 2004). These problems require serious attention due to the number of addicts. Addiction statistics have been fluctuating during the recent years according to the studies conducted in such a way that in 1390, the number of drug addicts in the population aged 15-64 (according to the 1358 census, which was equal to 50 million people) was announced as one million three hundred and twenty-five thousand people. (Sarami and Qurbani, 2013). have been declared by nearly 1.8 to 3.3 million people. Many factors are related to addiction, such as genetic, neurobiological, social factors (such as family and living environment), psychological and personality factors that can be mentioned (Kyanipour, 2019).  Meanwhile, according to Hansen, personality factors are one of the most important factors. One of the important personality factors is self-expression. Self-expression is the ability of a person to defend himself and the ability to "say no" to requests that a person does not want to make. (Zarger and Najarian 2017).

Researches have shown that this variable has a close relationship with substance addiction, so these studies have shown that there is an inverse relationship between the lack of this skill and the occurrence of addiction. (Franken [3] 2014; Haj Hosni, 2015; Delavar and Rashid, 2015; Malekpour and Ghorbani, 2015).

In the discussion of addiction treatment, there are many methods to treat drug addiction. Currently, most of them are focused on maintenance treatments. The main basis of these treatments is drug treatment. In recent years, only focusing on these treatments has caused not much success. (Rimaz, 2018) It seems that many addicts relapse, so the use of psychological and social treatments has shown its place and importance alongside these treatments. 1382) which is taken from the works of Jung [4] and Schonman [5] (1984), which seems to be effective in improving these people. The social, economic and public health problems of the current century are all over the world (Zarger, 2010). Addiction is one of the biggest problems of human society, which not only causes behavioral and social disorders, but also causes huge financial losses to the individual, family and society by affecting various aspects of physical health (Sakhawat 2013).  Due to its progressive nature, addiction endangers people's health in all aspects of life, and its adverse effects on the mental, physical, social, emotional, spiritual and cognitive health of a person are clearly visible (Zinali, 2016).

From a psychological point of view, substance abusers have a vulnerable personality trait (Naami and Zargar, 2017). One of the personality factors is self-esteem. Low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, to deal with daily life events can be a precursor to addiction or one of the results of addiction (Diabanagard, 2014). Self-esteem is self-evaluation that is done according to specific individual criteria, and each person considers the role of those criteria to be very important in determining their human value, and ultimately excessive drug use and addiction can be the cause and consequence of losing self-esteem (Nouhi, 2019). In this situation, resorting to drugs is a wrong decision, because although it makes a person feel better in the short term, its consequences in the long term usually make the problem worse (Molazadeh, 2018). High self-esteem makes a person resistant to others' judgments.

The theory of vulnerability to others' judgments believes that every person is vulnerable to people's opinions and opinions, unless he has a firm belief in his abilities and values. Such people are condemned to live in such a way that they always get people's satisfaction (Nouhi, 2009).  High self-esteem makes people feel less helpless and discouraged when facing life problems and when facing accidents and crises (Masoud Niya, 2018). In simpler terms, self-esteem is the amount of value a person places on himself (Natanil, 1998). Creating a sense of worthlessness and inadequacy during adulthood leads to a decrease in self-confidence, and these factors play an important role in the onset of addiction (Bigdali, 2011).  In fact, having high self-esteem is necessary for a healthy and strong self-efficacy. High self-esteem and self-efficacy increase a person's effort, perseverance and motivation, and it is one of the most effective factors that determine people's performance, especially in the control, monitoring and follow-up of treatment programs for drug-dependent clients (Nohi, 1389).

On the other hand, self-esteem has a direct relationship with self-expression (Abassinia, 1387). One of the personality factors in the tendency to addiction is lack of self-expression and difficulty in saying no (Haj Hosni, 1390). Self-expression increases self-esteem, rational expression of thoughts and feelings, reduces anxiety, improves social-communication skills, and considers the rights of others, and at the same time takes one's right, and ultimately leads to an increase in life satisfaction and happiness (And [6], 1995). Also, there is a relationship between non-adventurous behavior with social fears, social anxiety, internal aggression (such as extreme self-criticism and feelings of shyness, lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem) (Abbassinia, 2017). On the other hand, there is a negative relationship between non-adventurous behavior and independent behaviors, social self-sufficiency, self-confidence and high self-esteem (same source).  Addicted people suffer from a kind of internal tension and intense anxiety due to the weakness of self-expression (Khakbaz, 2013).  Increasing self-expression makes a person act decisively and become responsible (And, 1995).