Self-reflection and emotion regulation of persons who are in relationships with psychoactive substances users
The article presents the results of the study investigating the relationship between self-reflection and emotion regulation in people interacting with users of psychoactive substances. The study analyzes the change in these constructs while visiting support groups. The main study sample consists of 154 women aged 24 to 60 years (M = 46.18, SD = 8.72) living with people who use psychoactive substances. The participants received support from self-help communities such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, the Interregional Public Movement in Support of Family Sobriety Clubs, the Zamoskvoretsky Sobriety Society and Orthodox support groups, as well as the Unquenchable Hope, Unika, and Rehabilitation Live rehabilitation centers. The theoretical part presents different approaches to the definition of codependency, emotion regulation, self-reflection, and describes features attributed to the most popular self-help groups in Russia. The empirical part shows that codependency is characterized by two types of self-reflection: introspection and quasi-reflection. While introspection is a predictor of codependency. Systemic reflection is accompanied by constructive strategies of emotion regulation while introspection and quasi-reflection are destructive. Rumination is a necessary condition for all reflexive processes. Codependency is associated with emotional distress of the subjects, in particular a low level of positive emotions and a high level of negative emotions. Attending support groups has led to reduced levels of codependency, self-blame, and emotional well-being. It also results in a decrease in introspection and an increase in positive emotions. In future, it is possible to analyze peculiarities of effects that different support groups may have on self-reflection and processes of emotion regulation in partners of users of psychoactive substances. The article is part of the dissertation research of the author.