The Relationship between Mental Health and General Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Coping Strategies and Locus of Control in Male Drug Abusers

Background: Various studies have been conducted to determine the causes of drug abuse from a psychological perspective. Mental health has also been among the studied factors. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between mental health and general self-efficacy beliefs, coping strategies and locus of control in male drug abusers.Methods: This was a correlational descriptive study involving all male drug abusers (۴,۴۹۳ cases) at self-introducing detoxification centers in Kerman during ۲۰۱۰-۱۱. A total number of ۳۵۴ patients were selected randomly with cluster sampling. Measurement tools were included Goldberg’s General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-۲۸), Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE-۱۰), Coping Responses Inventory (CSI), and Internal–External Locus of Control Scale (I-E). The survey data were analyzed by SPSS using Pearson correlation and stepwise regression.Findings: The results of data analyses showed significant correlations between mental health and self-efficacy beliefs (r = -۰.۶۲۶), problem-oriented coping strategy (r = -۰.۵۳۵), emotion-oriented coping strategy (r = ۰.۵۷۳), external locus of control (r = -۰.۲۹۸), and internal locus of control (r = -۰.۵۲۵) (P < ۰.۰۱ for all). The results of the regression analysis showed that ۵۸.۷ percent of total variance of mental health can be estimated by general self-efficacy beliefs, coping strategies and locus of control.Conclusion: In general, the results showed that increased levels of general self-efficacy, problem-oriented coping strategy and internal locus of control will improve mental health. In contrast, decreased general self-efficacy, emotion-oriented coping strategy and external locus of control would lead to decreased mental health.Keywords: General self-efficacy beliefs, Coping strategies, Locus of control, Mental health, Substance abusers.