The role of cognitive impairment in risky sexual behavior of man with chronic methamphetamine abuse

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant professor, Ph.D. in health psychology, Department of Psychology, School of Social and Educational Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Professor, Ph.D. in clinical psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant professor, Ph.D. in health psychology, Department of Health Psychology, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health (Tehran Institute of Psychiatry), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 MA. student of general psychology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The immediate effects of methamphetamine abuse on risky sexual behavior are well known, but there is little information on the effects of chronic methamphetamine abuse and its cognitive impairments on risky sexual behavior, so this study aimed to investigating the role of cognitive dysfunctions on risky sexual behavior of man with chronic methamphetamine abuse.
Materials and Methods: The present study is analytical cross-sectional. Statistical population consisted of all men with methamphetamine abuse who were resident in addiction treatment camps of Tehran city. From this population a sample included of 300 individuals was selected through convenient sampling and They were assessed through Trail Making Test, Rapid Visual Information Processing task, and risky sexual behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed based on correlation tests and regression analysis using SPSS software.
Results: The findings showed that continuous attention (r=-0.13, P<0.05) and attention control (r=0.17, P<0.01) had significant correlation with risky sexual behavior. The regression equation used to predict risky sexual behavior on cognitive functions was significant (F=6.16, P<0.01). Continuous attention (t=-2.58, P<0.05) and attention control (t=3.54, P<0.01) had significant role in prediction of risky sexual behavior.
Conclusion: The findings revealed that cognitive impairment and risky sexual behavior are very common in chronic methamphetamine abuse and cognitive impairments are responsible for part of the risky sexual behavior in methamphetamine abusers.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 21, Issue 6
November and December 2019
Pages 359-367

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