Gender Differences in the Effects of Trust on Substance Abuse Severity Among Incarcerated Stimulant Offenders in Japan

Background: Treatment of stimulant offenders in Japan is an urgent issue. One of the more recent support approaches for stimulant offenders in Japan is to understand and support them based on a self-medication hypothesis; however, the effect of trust on substance abuse severity among incarcerated stimulant offenders has not been examined. Additionally, while accounting for gender differences is essential when providing support for them, these differences have not also been examined.

Purpose: To investigate gender differences in the effect of trust on substance abuse severity in a national sample of stimulant offenders in Japanese prisons.

Method: Data from 586 incarcerated stimulant offenders who answered a nationwide questionnaire were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were used to assess the association between trust and the severity of substance abuse.

Results: Compared with men, women reported lower trust in others; moreover, their distrust in others and substance abuse severity were greater. After controlling for confounding factors, multiple regression analyses were conducted separately for men and women, with trust as the independent variable and substance abuse severity as the dependent variable. The models for both men (R² = 0.180, p < 0.001) and women (R² = 0.236, p < 0.001) were significant. Trust in oneself influenced drug dependence severity for men (β = -0.183, p < 0.01), whereas distrust in others influenced drug dependence severity for women (β = 0.185, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that gender differences must be considered when supporting stimulant offenders in prison.