Abstract
BACKGROUND: Substance abuse poses significant health and societal burdens, particularly among psychiatric populations. Various coping styles, such as emotion-oriented and task-oriented approaches, influence substance use behaviors. This study explores the relationship between these coping styles and the utilization and misuse of industrial and traditional substances among hospitalized psychiatric patients in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study employed census sampling to evaluate 510 hospitalized psychiatric patients (135 women and 375 men) at Shiraz Ibn Sina Hospital in Iran over a three-month period. Participants underwent clinical interviews and completed Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), the Iranian Addiction Potential Scale (IAPS), and a substance use checklist. The study aimed to assess stress coping styles and addiction potential among all eligible patients in the hospital during the study period. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23. RESULTS: A study of 510 patients (375 males, 135 females; average age 36.2 ± 10.7) examined coping styles and addiction susceptibility. No significant difference was found in emotion-focused coping (p = 0.818), but males scored higher in task-oriented coping (p = 0.036) and addiction risk (p < 0.001). Substance users exhibited varying addiction potentials: cigarette smokers (p = 0.048), hookah users (p = 0.004), and amphetamine users (p < 0.001) showed notable tendencies toward emotion-oriented coping. Significant associations were found between substance use and psychiatric disorders, particularly mood and psychotic disorders (p < 0.001). Regression analysis indicated coping styles significantly predict IAPS scores; task-oriented lowers (Beta: -0.233, p < 0.001), emotion-oriented increases (Beta: 0.378, p < 0.001) addiction risk. CONCLUSION: Emotion-oriented coping was positively associated with addiction potential, while task-oriented coping showed a protective effect. These findings underscore the predictive value of coping styles in addiction vulnerability and support the development of coping-focused interventions.