Substance Addictive Behaviors and Their Relationship with Interpersonal Trauma, Emotion Dysregulation, and Psychopathological Symptoms: A Correlation Network Approach

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that substance addictive behaviors are associated with traumatic experiences, emotion dysregulation, and psychopathological symptoms. Emotion dysregulation may contribute to initiating and sustaining addictive behaviors, as a way to cope with interpersonal trauma. However, the interplay between interpersonal trauma, emotion dysregulation, and substance addictive behaviors is still understudied. An online survey was disseminated via snowball sampling. One thousand four hundred and forty-six individuals from the Italian general population were assessed for substance addictive behaviors, interpersonal trauma, emotion dysregulation, and psychopathological symptoms. A correlation network approach was used to examine the associations among these variables. Positive relationships were found between interpersonal trauma, emotion dysregulation, and substance addictive behaviors. Emotional neglect bridged the other types of trauma with substance use and psychopathology. Among psychopathological variables, depression, anxiety, and impaired personality functioning symptoms had the highest strength. Emotion dysregulation had the highest bridging. The findings suggest that psychopathological symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and emotionally traumatic experiences play a significant role in the activation of the addictive behavior network. Promoting emotion regulation strategies might be part of preventative actions and early intervention programs for substance addictive behaviors.