Family Functioning and Relapse among Drug Addicts in Pakistan: Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

Drug abuse is an enduring and chronic lifestyle disorder and relapse rate to drug abuse is high, and its negative impact on individuals, families and society is severe. Family functioning has a significant impact on the beginning and maintenance of substance use. Psychological capital is an effective protective factor against substance abuse. The purpose of this research was to determine the relationship between family functioning and relapse among drug addict in Pakistan as well as the focused on mediating effect of psychological capital. Three scales translated into Urdu language including Advanced Warnings of Relapse Questionnaire (Sahar & Naqvi, 2020), Family Assessment Device (Epstein et al., 1983), and Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans et al., 2007) along with informed consent and demographic sheet were administered on 150 male drug addicts of age 18 years above admitted for treatment in different Rehabilitation Centers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Results of current study demonstrated negative correlation between family functioning and warning of relapse. It was also concluded that psychological capital and relapse have negative relation with each other. Findings also revealed that psychological capital and family functioning have positive relation with each other. Outcomes showed mediating role of psychological capital between family functioning and relapse. Another outcome indicates that young drug addicts are more prone to relapse as compared to individuals of middle and late adult age. It was also depicted that individuals living in joint family system have more psychological capital than those living in nuclear system.