| Abstract [eng] |
In the context of addiction, lying is considered a structural mechanism that sustains self-deception and damages interpersonal relationships, yet its associations with attachment styles and loneliness remain insufficiently studied. The aim of the study was to examine the associations between lying motives, attachment styles, and loneliness in individuals with substance use disorders. Participants included 80 individuals dependent on psychoactive substances (56.25 % male; M = 41.76 years; SD = 9.73), recruited through convenience sampling, using a correlational research design. The Lying Motives Questionnaire (CEMA-A), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (R-UCLA) were used. Results showed that participants reported lying more frequently than average; the most strongly expressed motives were internal and interpersonal lying motivation, alongside avoidant attachment, while malicious motivation and anxious attachment were the least expressed. Anxious attachment and loneliness were most strongly associated with lying to oneself, internal lying motivation correlated with all measured lying indicators, while the remaining motives related only to specific lying contexts. Internal lying motivation and lack of employment significantly predicted overall lying frequency. The findings highlight the need to address attachment style reorganization, self-image strengthening, and emotion-acceptance-oriented interventions during addiction treatment, as well as to promote employment during reintegration. Since lying damages relationships and hinders the recovery process, educating both individuals with substance use disorders and their close ones about the causes and consequences of lying remains essential. |
