Psychosocial relationship status and quality as predictors of intervention adherence and substance use outcomes: Results from the STRIDE (CTN-0037) study.

Social/intimate relationship status and quality are associated with health-promoting behaviors, while living alone or isolated are adversely associated with physical and mental health outcomes. There has been limited investigation of how particular components of one’s social environment – usual living arrangements, satisfaction with those arrangements, and global social and family discord – are related to substance use reduction and intervention adherence.

This study investigated these questions in 270 individuals receiving a study intervention for stimulant abuse/dependence through the multi-site Stimulant Reduction Intervention using Dosed Exercise (CTN-0037) trial.

Using mixed effects modeling, the study found that:

• Socially-discordant individuals used stimulants more often during intervention.
• Women who were dissatisfied living alone also used stimulants more frequently.
• Living with a non-partner was associated with greater intervention adherence.

These results identify sample subgroups with adverse stimulant use and intervention adherence outcomes and suggest areas for future inquiry/intervention.

Related protocols: CTN-0037