The Role of Moral Disengagement and Social Intelligence in Predicting Drug Use Craving among Substance Users

Drug use craving is one of the most high-profile topics in the science of addictive disorders. This study aimed at determining the role of moral disengagement and social intelligence in predicting drug use craving among substance users.
A descriptive research method and a correlational research design were used for the conduct of this study. The substance users who had referred to departments of outpatient addiction in Kermanshah province in the first half of 2017 constituted the statistical population of this study. A total of 120 participants were selected through randomized cluster sampling. The data gathering tools consisted of three questionnaires, namely Bandura et al., Moral Disengagement Scale, Aungtontett Social Intelligence Test, and Somoza Drug Craving Scale. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis.
The results of correlation coefficients showed that craving has a positive relationship with the total score of moral disengagement and some of its components, including moral justification, advantageous comparison, ignoring the consequences, dehumanization, and attribution of blame; and has a negative relationship with social intelligence. The results of regression analysis showed that 15 percent of the variance of drug use craving is explained by moral disengagement and social intelligence.
It can be argued that moral disengagement and social intelligence are among the variables associated with drug use craving that should be considered in the addiction treatment program.