The Impact of Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence on Substance Dependence: A Comparative Study

Résumé

Abstract

Background: The phenomenon of drug addiction poses a threat to public health in Morocco, requiring a comprehensive understanding of the role of mindfulness in relation to emotional intelligence (EI) in the context of drug addiction in Fez (Morocco).

Methods:  The study compared two groups: one group of 47 people aged 16 to 61 with substance dependence and another group of the same age without substance issues. Participants filled out a questionnaire about their background and took tests to measure their mindfulness and emotional intelligence. Data was collected over three months, and statistical methods were used to find differences between the two groups and to see how mindfulness and emotional intelligence relate to each other.

Results:  The experimental group had much lower scores in mindfulness (11.17) and emotional intelligence (11.26) compared to the control group, which scored higher at 38.74 and 28.32, respectively. The statistical analysis showed clear differences between the two groups, indicating that lower mindfulness and emotional intelligence are linked to substance dependence. The findings also highlight how mindfulness affects emotional intelligence independently.

Conclusion: The results emphasize the value of integrating mindfulness and emotional intelligence training into substance addiction prevention and treatment programs. Enhancing these competencies may help reduce drug use. In Morocco, future research should investigate the relationship between mindfulness and emotional intelligence and their combined impact on substance misuse intervention.

Keywords: Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, Substance Dependence, Addiction Treatment, Comparative Study.