title: Social Functioning and Self-Esteem of Substance Abuse Patients.
abstract: This descriptive study was conducted to examine the levels of social functioning and self-esteem in individuals diagnosed with substance abuse.
  
  
  
  The study was conducted at the AMATEM (Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Center) service of a psychiatry clinic in the Elazığ province in eastern Turkey between September 1, 2014 and February 1, 2015. The population is comprised of 249 patients being treated in this clinic, and the sample included 203 patients who comply with the research criteria and agreed to participate in the study. A Socia-Demographic Questionnaire, Coopersmith Self-esteem Scale (CSI) and Social Functioning Scale (SFS) were used for data collection. Percentages, averages, standard deviations and Pearson's correlation were used for data analysis.
  
  
  
  This study found that the patients' mean sore on the Self-esteem Scale is 50.97±18.01. Their score on the Social Functioning Scale is 115.76±22.41. A significant correlation between the patients' self-esteem and the age of first substance use was detected (p=0.001). A significant correlation was detected between their social functioning and the duration of their substance use (p<0.005). This study found a positive significant correlation between social functioning and self-esteem (p<0.001).
  
  
  
  This study found that substance abuse patients have a medium level of self-esteem and social functioning. A significant positive correlation between social functioning and self-esteem was found. It was also found that the age of first substance use and self-esteem are directly correlated. Counseling to increase patients' levels of self-esteem and improve their social functioning is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Elazığ Hospital for Psychiatric and Neurological Diseases, Elazığ, Turkey.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ersöğütçü
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry Nursing, Faculty Health of Science,Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. Electronic address: sibelasi_36@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sibel Asi
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Karakaş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012649:Self Concept; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey