Emotional competence and magazine in cocaine users: Psychometrics and relationship with sociodemographic and clinical variables

Abstract

Introduction. Current evidence suggests a relationship between emotional factors and drugs consumption, although at least both emotional competence and social magazine of emotions have not been studied in cocaine users, in part due to the recent generation of tools for their measure.

Objective. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Emotional Competence Questionnaire (ECQ), and the Questionnaire about Beliefs in the effects of the Social Magazine of Emotions (QSME) in Mexican cocaine users, and to establish its relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables.

Method. All instruments, as well as the Positive Affectivity (PA) and Negative Affectivity (NA) Scales, were completed twice by 158 cocaine users.

Results. All scales showed alpha coefficients greater than .70. The TAS and ECQ presented high temporal stability. NA was positively associated with TAS, and negatively with ESQ. PA showed a negative correlation with TAS, and a positive relation with ECQ and QSME. 50.9% of the patients had a relevant difficulty in identifying and expressing their emotions, which was negatively correlated with schooling.

Discussion and conclusion. A systematic evaluation and treatment of difficulties in the expression of emotions in cocaine users seems to be necessary. The Spanish versions of the scales are valid and reliable for their use with clinical and research purposes in Mexican cocaine users.