Emotion dysregulation and perceived social support in substance use disorder: the mediating role of anxiety and depression

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of anxiety and depression in the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation, perceived social support, and dependence severity in treatment-seeking patients with substance use disorders (SUDs).Methods The study included 130 treatment-seeking patients with SUDs. Data were collected using the Addiction Profile Index (API), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).Results The total indirect effect of anxiety on the relationship between the DERS total score and API-dependence severity was significant. In contrast, the direct effect of the DERS total score on API-dependence severity was not significant. However, the total effect of DERS on API-dependence severity was significant. The total indirect effect of depression and anxiety on the relationship between MSPSS and API-dependence severity was not significant, and the direct effect of the MSPSS total score on API-dependence severity was significant.Conclusion Our findings indicate that increased difficulties in emotion regulation indirectly heighten dependence severity through the mediating effect of anxiety. Conversely, a decrease in perceived social support directly increases dependence severity without the mediating effect of depression or anxiety.