Correlates and Predictors of Emotional Well-Being Among Latinxs With a Substance Use Disorder

Self-stigma among persons with substance use disorders (SUDs) represents a significant barrier to patient recovery. Numerous studies have identified that experienced or enacted stigma deters people from seeking health treatment, impacting their well-being. Considering that chronic exposure to SUD-related stereotypes is associated with the internalization of such stereotypes and that self-stigma has been linked to lower levels of self-efficacy, the present study examined the association of experienced or enacted substance use stigma, self-efficacy, and self-stigma with emotional well-being among Latinxs with SUD. The sample consisted of secondary data from (N = 412) people aged 21 years or older with a history of SUD. In the original study, participants were recruited by availability from two settings in Puerto Rico: correctional facilities (n = 311) and community programs that provide primary care services to people living with HIV and SUD (n = 101), many of whom have a history of imprisonment. Hierarchical regression was performed to determine the statistically significant variance of emotional well-being explained by experienced or enacted stigma, self-efficacy, and self-stigma. The full model with experienced or enacted stigma, self-efficacy, and self-stigma accounted for 31.8% of the variance in emotional well-being. These findings suggest the need for longitudinal studies examining how self-stigma and self-efficacy contribute to emotional well-being to inform patient-centered behavioral interventions that offer providers insightful knowledge to treat this population appropriately.