PERCEIVED STRESS AS CORRELATES TO THE

AGGRESSION PROFILE AMONG DRUG

DEPENDENTS: BASIS FOR ENHANCED
BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

2022
Volume: 6
Pages: 1130-1134
Document ID: 2022PEMJ411
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7430237
Manuscript Accepted: 2022-10-12
Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 1130-1134, Document ID: PEMJ411, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7430237, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article

Perceived Stress as Correlates to the Aggression Profile Among Drug Dependents:

Basis for Enhanced Behavioral Management Program
Hazel Mae S. Arpia*
For affiliations and correspondence, see the last page.

Abstract
This study determined that perceived stress correlates to the aggression profile among drug
dependents. Its result served as the basis for an enhanced behavioral management program. Perceived
stress was the feeling or thought that an individual has about how much stress he is under at a given
point in time or over a given time. Whereas, aggression is a behavior that involves a threat or action
that potentially or actually causes pain, withdrawal, or loss of resources. The researcher used the
descriptive- correlational method, as it was adopted to gather the data needed in determining the
relationship between perceived stress and aggression among drug dependents. The Perceived Stress
Scale (PSS) and Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) were used to measure the mentioned variables.
Based on the gathered data, results showed that the severity of stress of the respondents falls under
the moderate level; though the majority of the respondents have a high level of aggression. There is
also a significant relationship between stress and the aggression profile of drug dependents. With
these results, an enhanced behavioral management program was proposed.

Keywords: aggression, perceived stress, drug dependents, behavioral management program

Introduction drugs are regularly used to lessen the manifestations of

This study explored the perceived stress as correlates
to the aggression profile among drug dependents for a
basis of an enhanced behavioral management program.
Seen stress was the feelings, thoughts, or musings that
an individual has about how much stressing factor they
are under at a given point on time or all through a
given time. Then again, aggression is a conduct that
includes a danger or activity that possibly or causes
torment, withdrawal, or loss of assets. While inside the
Rehabilitation Center, stress and aggression both
dominatingly impact the conduct of a drug dependent.
Stress altogether corresponds to animosity, which
regularly results in infringement and rowdiness.
Hence, understanding the relationship of these two
factors significantly be gainful in aiding drug
dependents towards their recuperation.
Working in a Rehabilitation Center for more than 3
years, difficulty in controlling aggressive impulses of
drug- dependent patients often resulted in frequent
violations of house rules. One of the major factors that
aggravates the aggressive impulses of the patients was
due to stress that they experienced. Therefore, as a
psychologist, it is considered as one of the major
problems that needs to be considered for treatment
aside from their drug dependence.
Addiction and stress frequently go connected at the
hip. For the individuals who are managing significant
degrees of stress in their day-by-day lives, liquor and
stress, which in some cases prompting substance
misuse and compulsion. Individuals who have
encountered unpleasant circumstances may take this to
the limit, utilizing liquor or drugs to dull tension and
other ongoing side effects of pressure, rapidly getting
reliant upon the
Managing stress is an imperative segment of the
enslavement recuperation measure since it helps
people who use substances as a way of dealing with
stress to discover a better source for pressure. By
doing techniques to manage stress regularly, addicts
will be better prepared to deal with any tough spots
that they may look for later on.
Persistent drug and liquor misuse may prompt reduced
execution at work and school and affects people’s
capacity to keep up with sound relational connections.
It can likewise add to a sensational decrease in mental
and actual wellbeing. In any case, quite possibly the
most ignored dangers encompassing long haul drug
and liquor misuse lie in the capability to lead to
furious, silly, and conceivably vicious conduct in
certain people who battle with the issue.
Research recommends that throughout the time liquor
and medications have been connected to outrage and
hostility. Alcohol, energizers like cocaine and
methamphetamine, anabolic steroids, weed, and
various drugs have either been used to upgrade
abnormal energetic states or have been caught in the
precipitation of shock and hostility. Not only do huge

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Psych Educ, 2022, 6: 1130-1134, Document ID: PEMJ411, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.7430237, ISSN 2822-4353
Research Article
quantities of the personality changing substances
debilitate understanding yet furthermore there is proof
that alcohol and drugs — through their ability to adjust
neurotransmitter levels change demeanor state.
As the National Institute on Drug Abuse clarifies,
hostility is one of the conceivable results of certain
sorts of medications. The Mayo Clinic additionally
depicts how a few energizers can build an individual's
degree of forcefulness. Furthermore, talk about the
ways that utilizing certain drugs can prompt hostility
and vicious conduct. It clarifies that a few substances,
like liquor, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines, decline
an individual's nervousness, which thus makes him
bound to partake in risky exercises.
All things considered, not all addicts are violent, and
the individuals who are might be vicious just to
themselves and not to other people. In any case, the
relationship between illicit drug use and viciousness is
sufficient that anybody considering substance misuse
treatment ought to be ready to address outrage,
dissatisfaction, and different sentiments and practices
that can prompt savagery. Not exclusively do drugs
cause various indications, they cause various impacts
in various individuals.
The association between substance abuse and brutal
conduct has been particularly detailed. For example,
one of the journals in substance abuse treatment saw
that in the abundance of 75% of people who start
treatment for unlawful medication use report having
performed various showings of violence, including
(yet not limited to) ransacking, real assault, and using
a weapon to attack another person. Examining sexual
direction differentiates, the examination of alcohol and
meds tracked down that before searching for treatment
for substance abuse, the speed of horrendous exhibits
was basically pretty much as high as 72% among men
and 50% among women. People evaluating treatment
were implied by family members considering awful
lead finished while hindered. Also, researchers found
that aggression between two people in a sincere or
sexual relationship was "related with robust drinking
scenes and cocaine use."
Overall, the primordial goal of the study is to
determine stress as correlates to the aggression profile
among drug dependents which will serve as the basis
for Enhanced Behavioral Management Program. This
study is a big help to the management of the
Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation
Center, Taguig City for further implementation of their
program and additional intervention. Likewise, this
study will serve as the basis for future plans of action
Hazel Mae S. Arpia
by the different rehabilitation institutions concerning
the necessary actions for their behavioral management
program.
Methodology
Research Design
The research design used in this study is the
Descriptive-Correlational method. It was adopted to
gather the data needed in determining the levels of
stress and aggression among drug dependents.
Descriptive research illustrative exploration portrays
what exists and may assist with uncovering new
realities and which means. It depends on quantitative
information accumulated from composed archives,
individual meetings, test results, and overviews. The
motivation behind expressive examination is to notice,
depict, and record the parts of a circumstance as it
normally happens. Likewise, the Correlational method
was used in an attempt to seek the relationship
between the perceived stress and aggression among
drug dependents which served as the basis for the
Enhanced Behavioral Management Program.
Description of Respondents
The respondents of the study were 100 randomly
selected patients admitted at the Department of Health
Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, Taguig City. Out
of the total number of the sample of respondents, 37%
belonged to the 24-33 age group and 34% to the 34-43
age group. This demonstrates that a greater part of the
respondents is in the early grown-up or grown-up
years. Statistics suggests that the mean age of drug
abusers is 31 years old and the initiation of drug use
starts in early adulthood (Dangerous Drugs Board,
2016). Furthermore, with regards to the educational
history, the majority of the respondents were at the
high school level. Only 7% had vocational training;
college and elementary were 13% and 35%
respectively.
Results and Discussion
The study aimed to determine stress as correlates to
the aggression profile among drug dependents. It
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Research Article

explicitly looked into the apparent pressure of the

respondents sorted into low, moderate, and significant
degrees of perceived stress. Likewise, it dealt with the
aggression profile and the significant relationship
between the perceived stress and the aggression profile
of the respondents. The result of this study served as
the basis for developing an enhanced behavioral
management program. It utilized a descriptive design
and correlational method. Simple random sampling
was employed in the study which led to the sample
size of one hundred (100) respondents. Perceived
Stress Scale (PSS) and Aggression Questionnaire (AQ)
were the instruments used to collect data. The gathered
data were checked, tabulated, analyzed, and
interpreted using the frequency distribution and
Pearson r for the correlation of the variables.
The severity of perceived stress of the respondents fell
under the moderate level. This indicated that
respondents had an average amount of perceived
stress. No significant disturbance or negative
implications with regards to the stress.
Table 1. Perceived Stress based on Mean Score
the high average level. This showed that respondents
had general control of truly forceful conduct and a
somewhat normal capacity to control genuinely
forceful motivations. Also, they regularly express
resentment in activities that keep away from a face-to-
face showdown. They had an average degree of verbal
aggression, which showed that respondents were
people who don't apparent themselves as contentious.
Nonetheless, the hostility and indirect aggression of
the respondents fell within the high level. This
indicated that respondents were regularly connected
with the presence of peevishness, dissatisfaction,
enthusiastic lability, and volatile motioning.
Accordingly, the ramifications of heights on different
scales are amplified because the individual is in a
condition of social distance and is not ready to
consider the necessities or sensations of others.
Table 3. Relationship of Stress and Aggression Profile
of the Respondents

Majority of the respondents had a high average level

of aggression. This reports the respondents to have
relatively few but extreme intense angry or aggressive
episodes, as well as may have episodes that are less Enhanced Behavioral Management that focuses on
intense but relatively chronic. perceived stress and aggression profile was proposed.

Table 2. Aggression Profile based on Mean Score Behavioral Management Program

The severity of aggression of the respondents in terms

of different scales: both physical and anger fell under

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Research Article
Conclusion
As a conclusion, the respondents have a moderate
level of stress. Respondents have a high average level
of aggression. In terms of aggression profile, they fall
under both physical aggression and anger with a high
average level. Hostility and indirect aggression are
within the high level. Lastly, respondents have an
average level of verbal aggression. There is a
significant relationship between stress and the
aggression profile among drug dependents. Based on
the findings, Enhanced Behavioral Management
Program is recommended.
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Affiliations and Corresponding Information
Hazel Mae S. Arpia
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Manila, Philippines
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