Autoeficacia y craving en personas con trastorno por consumo de sustancias en CETAD en Cuenca, Ecuador, en el año 2025

Abstract

Craving and self-efficacy are fundamental factors in addressing the global problem of substance use disorders, particularly in terms of their role in the risk of relapse. This study analyzed the relationship between self-efficacy and craving in patients with substance use disorders undergoing residential treatment. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional, correlational design was used. A total of 176 adult men with a mean age of 35 years participated in specialized centers in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. The instruments used for data collection were the Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire (BSCQ), the Mannheim Craving Scale (MaCS), and a sociodemographic/clinical form. The results showed that 71% of participants had high selfefficacy, with higher scores in situations involving pleasant emotions (82.4%) and physical discomfort (80.1%), and lower scores in challenges to self-control (68.2%) and unpleasant emotions (72.7%). Craving had a mean of 12.93 (SD = 8.06), being higher in poly-users. A significant negative correlation between self-efficacy and craving was confirmed (ρ = -.282, p < .01), suggesting a possible protective effect of self-efficacy. The findings are discussed in depth regarding sociodemographic and clinical profiles, situational and global self-efficacy patterns, global craving intensity and diagnosis-specific variations, and the role of residential treatment context as a mediator. The study underscores the need for tailored interventions according to the type of substance consumed.