Association between social support and life satisfaction among people with substance use disorder: the mediating role of resilience

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the correlation between social support and life satisfaction among individuals with substance use disorder and investigate the mediating effect of resilience between these variables. A total of 513 individuals with substance use disorder aged 19-65 years were recruited from two compulsory detoxification units in Nanjing, China. Participants were requested to independently complete the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. A correlation matrix was used to analyze various characteristics. The relationship among social support, resilience, and life satisfaction was evaluated with hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap method, based on a structural equation model. Social support was significantly associated with life satisfaction in individuals with substance use disorder. Moreover, resilience played an intermediary role between social support and life satisfaction in individuals with substance use disorder. Our results confirm resilience partially mediates the association between social support and life satisfaction. These findings provide a clearer understanding regarding the impact of resilience and social support on life satisfaction in individuals with substance use disorder.