Predicting Risk-Taking Behaviors Based on the Role of Perceived Social Support Components, Emotional Expression and Brain- Behavioral Systems in Addicts

 The prevalence of risk-taking behaviors is a severe health threat. According to rapid social changes, it has recently been considered by health organizations, law enforcement, and social policymakers. The present study aimed to predict risk-taking behaviors based on the role of perceived social support components, emotional expression, and brain-behavioral systems in substance-dependent patients.

This was a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of the study included all substance-dependent patients referring to substance dependence treatment centers in Ardabil City, Iran, in 2018. In total, 113 substance-dependent patients were selected by convenience sampling method. The study instruments included Rajaee and shafiee's Risk-Taking Behaviors Questionnaire, Zimet's Multiple Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), King, and Emmons's Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (EEQ), and Carver and White's Brain-Behavioral Systems Questionnaire (BIS/BAS). The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous-entry multiple regression analysis in SPSS.

 The achieved results suggested a significant negative correlation between perceived social support from family, friends, and others, with the risk-taking behaviors of substance-dependent patients (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between negative emotional expression and the risk-taking behaviors of substance-dependent patients among emotional expressiveness components (P<0.01). Moreover, among the components of brain-behavioral systems, there was a significant positive correlation between behavioral activation system and risk-taking behaviors (P<0.01). Additionally, the regression analysis results revealed that approximately 49% of the total variance of risk-taking behaviors of patients with substance dependence was predicted based on perceived social support components, emotional expression, and brain-behavioral systems (P<0.001).

 In general, perceived social support from family and friends, negative emotional expression, and behavioral activation system can predict risk-taking behaviors in substance-dependent patients.