Effect of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing on Mental Health and Life Satisfaction of Substance Users in Residential Settings

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the impact of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) on the mental health outcomes—depression, anxiety, stress—and life satisfaction among male substance users. Specifically, the objectives were to compare pre-test scores between non-interventional and interventional groups, assess the post-intervention impact of CBT and MI, and determine its effectiveness in reducing negative mental health symptoms and enhancing life satisfaction from pre-test to post-test. The hypotheses stated that there would be no significant differences in pre-test scores between groups, but the CBT and MI interventional group would show significantly lower depression, anxiety, and stress, alongside higher life satisfaction post-intervention. A total of 60 male participants, aged 18-40, from government rehabilitation centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were randomly assigned to non-interventional (n=30) and interventional (n=30) groups. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) were used to measure outcomes. Pre-test comparisons showed no significant differences between groups. However, post-test results revealed that the interventional group had significantly lower depression (M=10.43, SD=1.96), anxiety (M=9.93, SD=2.86), and stress (M=10.63, SD=2.23), and significantly higher life satisfaction (M=19.43, SD=1.98) compared to the non-interventional group. Large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 2.0) indicated a strong impact of CBT on mental health and life satisfaction. These findings suggest that CBT and MI are an effective intervention for improving psychological well-being among substance users.