The Associations of Alexithymia and Emotion Dysreglation with Proneness to Substance Dependence in University Students

The present study aimed to determine the associations of alexithymia and emotion dysregulation with proneness to substance dependence in university students. This study was a correlational-descriptive design. The sample of this study consisted of 361 university students of Semnan Azad University in the academic year of 1396 selected by convenience sampling method based on Krejcie and Morgan table. Research tools were the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (1994), Gratz & Roemer Emotion Regulation Scale (2004), and Zarger et al. (1385) Addiction Proneness Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test and stepwise regression. The results showed that there was a relationship between alexithymia components and proneness to substance dependence. Difficulty in identifying feelings and difficulty in describing feelings explained totally 18% of the variance of proneness to substance dependence. Also, the results showed that there was a relationship between the components of emotion dysregulation and proneness to substance dependence. Non-acceptance of emotional responses, difficulty in impulse control, and difficulty in engaging in goal-directed behavior explained totally 29% of the variance of proneness to substance dependence. Overall, the results indicated the importance and roles of emotional distress and emotion regulation in substance dependence, so paying attention to emotion regulation using appropriate strategies to prevent substance dependence is essential.