Effectiveness of Emotional Regulation Training on Quality of Life, Self-efficacy, and Problem-solving in Adolescents

Objectives: Teenage drug addiction is one of the most severe issues, leading to various physical, social, and educational damage and consequences. The present study determines the effectiveness of emotional regulation training on quality of life (QoL), self-efficacy, and problem-solving skills in substance-dependent adolescents. Methods: This semi-experimental study utilized a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population was male adolescents who reported to addiction treatment centers of the Tehran Welfare Organization between November and February of 2018 in Tehran City, Iran. The statistical sample of the research consisted of 30 teenagers (aged 15 to 19 years) who were drug addicts. They were selected for treatment based on the stage of change screening. The present research data were collected using the World Health Organization (WHO) QoL (1996), self-efficacy (Schwartz and Jer Vasalem, 1983), and problem-solving skills (Hippner and Peterson, 1982) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using the repeated measure analysis of variance method via the SPSS software, version 22. Results: Emotional regulation training was effective in increasing the QoL (F=39.49, P<0.001), self-efficacy (F=136.80, P<0.001), and problem-solving skills (F=71.59, P<0.001) in substance-dependent adolescents. Discussion: Emotional regulation training is practical for the QoL, self-efficacy, and problemsolving skills of substance-dependent adolescents. This training can be used to reduce the psychological problems of substance-dependent adolescents.