The role of internet emotional relationships, family and marital intimacy in predicting substance use relapse: A structural equation modeling study

The type and quality of relationships that individuals struggling with addiction establish in their daily lives play a crucial role in their recovery and liberation from addiction. Therefore, this study aims to predict substance use relapse based on marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships. This study employed a descriptive-correlational design. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of addicted individuals aged 24 to 65 and above with substance abuse. The socio-statistics of this study were all substance users in NA in Bojnord city/ North Khorasan province/ Iran: 2024. Participants were either self-referred or admitted through legal intervention. A total of 384 individuals were selected as available sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, including the Walker & Thompson Marital Intimacy Scale, the Family of Origin Scale by Hovestadt et al., the Iranian Internet Emotional Relationships Questionnaire by Barghi Irani and Aziz, and the Substance Use Relapse Prediction Scale by Wright et al. After data collection, raw data were scored and analyzed using SPSS 16 and R software. Statistical analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients, stepwise regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), and path analysis. Statistical analyses revealed a significant relationship between substance use relapse and marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships (P < 0.001). Specifically, increased marital and family intimacy significantly reduced the likelihood of substance use relapse among addicted individuals (P < 0.001). Another finding indicated an inverse yet significant relationship between substance use relapse and internet emotional relationships (P < 0.001). Based on the findings, marital intimacy, family intimacy, and internet emotional relationships can predict substance use relapse in individuals struggling with addiction. Therefore, it is recommended to organize educational programs aimed at fostering intimacy within family relationships to promote constructive interactions between family members and addicted individuals.