Drugs as Soulmates: The Construction and Validation of a 12-Item Soulmate Scale to Measure Substance Addiction and Loneliness

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 17; no. 24; p. 9408
• Main Authors: Lo, T Wing, Yeung, Jerf W K, Lee, Gabriel K W, Tam, Cherry H L, Chan, Gloria H Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 15-12-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Addictions; Drug addiction; Drug use; Drugs; Emotions; Factor analysis; Hong Kong; Humans; Intimacy; Loneliness; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Psychological stress; Security; Social interactions; Social isolation; Social research; Substance use; Substance-Related Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Hong Kong; drug addiction; loneliness; Hong Kong; substance abuse; soulmate; drug treatment
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17249408

Substance users use substances to tackle psychological stress, frustrations, poor social support and poor-quality relationships. Such experience resembles seeking a soulmate for receiving comfort, a sense of security and satisfaction to relieve feelings of loneliness. Against this backdrop, the study aims to develop a Soulmate Scale to measure substance use and loneliness. Data were collected from 507 drug abusers between 18-71 years of age who were receiving drug addiction treatment in Hong Kong. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Results show a valid and reliable scale with three factors: psychological release and shelter, staunch and supportive friendship, and spiritual solace and companionship. This study offers additional support for understanding the drug-taking experience of substance users from their perspective. The Scale provides a useful tool to assess the underlying reasons for substance users to persistently take drugs and formulate corresponding intervention plans to achieve drug abstinence.