Study of the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between exposure to traumatic events and risky sexual behavior among substance abusers

Survey conducted by the center for disease control of the ministry of health shows that cases of AIDS through risky sexual behavior are increasing that could be warning for the intensification of the negative consequences of the disease in the community. Difficulty in emotion regulation and exposure to traumatic event are the most important factors in risky sexual behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulty in the relationship between risky sexual behavior and exposure to traumatic events.
Two hundred substance abusers admitted to addiction treatment and recovery centers in Shiraz were selected by convenient sampling. To collect the data HIV Risky Sexual Behavior Scale (HRSB), Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Life Event Checklist (LEC) were used. Possible causal model was analyzed by Structural Equation Model (SEM).
The results of this study support the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties (β=0.31, P=0.0001) in the relationship between exposure to traumatic event and risky sexual behavior.
According to evidence, it can be concluded that exposure to traumatic event and difficulty in emotion regulation can provide risky sexual behavior. Furthermore, trauma by disrupting the emotion regulation can lead to risky behavior.