Drugs as Soulmates: The Construction and Validation of a 12-Item Soulmate Scale to Measure Substance Addiction and Loneliness

T. Wing Lo; Jerf W. K. Yeung; Gabriel K. W. Lee; Cherry H. L. Tam; Gloria H. Y. Chan

doi:10.3390/ijerph17249408

Author(s)

Related Research Unit(s)

Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences

Detail(s)

Original language	English
Article number	9408
Number of pages	14
Journal / Publication	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	17
Issue number	24
Online published	15 Dec 2020
Publication status	Published - Dec 2020

Link(s)

DOI	DOI https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249408 Final Published version
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Attachment(s)	Documents 69724955.pdf Final Published version, 1.03 MB, PDF Publisher's Copyright Statement This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Link to Scopus	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85097927604&origin=recordpage
Permanent Link	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/publication(ef6b1f74-046d-4a59-996d-507ebeb1c19c).html

Abstract

Substance users use substances to tackle psychological stress, frustrations, poor social support and poor-quality relationships. Such experience resembles seeking a soulmate for receiving comfort, a sense of security and satisfaction to relieve feelings of loneliness. Against this backdrop, the study aims to develop a Soulmate Scale to measure substance use and loneliness. Data were collected from 507 drug abusers between 18–71 years of age who were receiving drug addiction treatment in Hong Kong. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. Results show a valid and reliable scale with three factors: psychological release and shelter, staunch and supportive friendship, and spiritual solace and companionship. This study offers additional support for understanding the drug-taking experience of substance users from their perspective. The Scale provides a useful tool to assess the underlying reasons for substance users to persistently take drugs and formulate corresponding intervention plans to achieve drug abstinence.