The Comparison of Emotional Intelligence, Cognitive Distortions and Social Behavior between Substance-Dependent and Non-Dependent Individuals

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare emotional intelligence, cognitive distortions and social behavior between substance-dependent and non-dependent individuals. Method: The present study was a causal-comparative study. The statistical population of this study included substance-dependent men referring to addiction treatment camps in Tehran and also substance-nondependent men. Two hundred and sixteen men aged 20-70 years were selected by convenience sampling and assigned into two groups of substance-dependent (n=108) and non-dependent (n=108) individuals. Participants completed the modified emotional intelligence scale, the cognitive distortions scale and the prosocial tendencies measure-revised. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance, chi-square and independent t-test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the substance-dependent group and the non-dependent group regarding emotional intelligence and cognitive distortions (except for overgeneralization), so that the dependent group had significantly lower scores on emotional intelligence and higher scores on cognitive distortions than the non-dependent group. Also, there was a significant difference in the subscale of anonymous social behaviors between the two groups, so that the dependent group had significantly lower scores on anonymous social behaviors than the non-dependent group. Conclusion: These differences are important in designing clinical interventions for treatment.