DefinePK

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between perceived social support, attachment styles, and identity development among substance users and non-users in Pakistan. Employing a cross-sectional design, data were collected from a sample of 300 participants, comprising 150 substance users and 150 non-users, recruited from various regions including Haripur, Islamabad, Abbottabad, and Mansehra. Participants completed three psychometrically sound instruments: the Adult Attachment Scale (Hazan & Shaver, 1987), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet et al., 1988), and the Aspects of Identity Development Questionnaire (Cheek et al., 1994). Statistical analyses using SPSS revealed significant associations among attachment styles, perceived social support, and identity development. Notably, substance users with insecure attachment styles exhibited lower levels of identity development compared to securely attached non-users. Anxious attachment was particularly linked to increased identity-related difficulties. Significant group differences emerged across all three constructs, with family dynamics playing a moderating role in the attachment-identity relationship. Additionally, regional variations were observed in levels of perceived social support. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions in clinical, educational, and familial contexts to address substance use, foster social support, and facilitate healthy identity development, thereby contributing to overall psychological well-being and advancing the literature in this domain.