Metacognition and Body Image in Predicting Alexithymia in Substance Abusers.
BACKGROUND
Substance dependency is one of the biggest problems and worries of the world. It stunts the growth of society and causes various problems such as reduction in public health, increase in mortality, rise in social and domestic traumas, loss of educational and occupational opportunities, involvement with the judicial system, and development of the substance-abuse cycle.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the role of metacognition and body image in predicting alexithymia in substance abusers.


METHODS
The research sample included addicts (males and females aged 10 to 70 years) who referred to the addiction treatment and counseling centers of three Iranian cities of Zahedan, Sari, and Neyriz. Participants were selected by random sampling. The metacognitive strategy questionnaire (MCQ-30), physical self-description questionnaire (PSDQ), and Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20) were used for data collection. The hypotheses were tested using the Pearson's correlation method and regression analysis.


RESULTS
According to the results of the current study, the highest correlation was between alexithymia and the cognitive awareness subscale (r = 0.305; P < 0.01).There was no significant correlation between alexithymia and body image. Based on the multiple regression analysis, the three predictors explained 11% of the variance (R(2) = 0. 11, F = 3.981; P < 0.01). Cognitive awareness significantly predicted 9% of the variance (β = 0.305; P < 0.01), and the other subscales predicted about 2%.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings demonstrated that metacognition had an important role in predicting alexithymia in the substance abusers, which underscores the necessity of precautionary measures.
Deputy of Research and Technology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, IR Iran.
Samaneh
S
Babaei
Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation, Neyriz, IR Iran.
Maryam
M
Gharechahi
Training and Education Organization of Daregaz, Daregaz, IR Iran.
Zohreh
Z
Hatami
Training and Education Organization of Sari, Sari, IR Iran ; Department of Clinical Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, IR Iran.
Shahryar
S
Ranjbar Varandi
Affective Symptoms; Behavior, Addictive; Body Image; Cognition