Mohammad Douzandeh Nargesi, Zohreh Teymori, Mehnoosh Tavakkolifard,
Volume 27, Issue 3 (7-2024)
Abstract
Introduction: The stress caused by COVID-19 had affected many people in society, especially individuals at risk. The present study was carried out to investigate, firstly, whether COVID-19-related stress plays a mediating role in the relationship between rumination and aggression in drug-dependent people undergoing treatment. Secondly, the study was conducted to know whether rumination has an indirect effect on the aggression of substance-dependent people under treatment through the mediation of COVID-19-related stress.
Methods: In this correlational analytical study, 136 patients undergoing maintenance treatment with methadone who were willing to enter the study were investigated by the available sampling method in two addiction treatment centers in the 1st and 2nd districts. The data collection tools in the present study included the Corona Disease Anxiety Questionnaire, Rumination Questionnaire, and Bass and Perry Aggression Questionnaire. After collecting the data, the anxiety score of each participant was measured from 0 to 54, the rumination score from 0 to 88, and the aggression score from 29 to 145. Then, the data was analyzed using Lisrel statistical software.
Results: Findings showed that the direct effect of rumination on aggression is 0.23, which is significant at the P < 0.01 level. Therefore, rumination has a positive and direct effect on aggression. Also, COVID-19-related stress plays a mediating role in the relationship between rumination and aggression in drug addicts under treatment. In addition, the indirect effect of rumination on aggression is 0.25, which is significant. Thus, rumination has an indirect effect on aggression through the mediation of COVID-19-related stress.
Conclusions: According to the high prevalence of psycho-social problems such as depression, anxiety, fear, addiction, job burnout, suicidal thoughts, violence, domestic and post-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the post-corona era, we have witnessed a high amount of mental and social injuries in the world. For this reason, governments must screen psychologically vulnerable groups in advance.
