Impact of Physical Activity on Relapse Tendency of AIDS Patients Undergoing Compulsory Detoxification: A Chain Mediation Analysis of Intrinsic Restraint and Yearning for Drugs

  Objective  To explore the relationships among physical activity, intrinsic restraint, yearning for drugs and relapse tendency of AIDS patients undergoing compulsory detoxification, so as to provide important references for drug addicts to formulate daily physical activity and rehabilitation training plan after physical detoxification.

  Methods  A questionnaire survey was carried out in 319 AIDS patients undergoing compulsory detoxification using the Physical Activity Scale, Intrinsic Restraint Scale, Yearning for Drugs Scale and Relapse Tendency Scale.

  Results  ① There is a significant difference of traditional drug and new drug among intrinsic restriction (t=2.13, P < 0.05), yearning for drugs(t=6.10, P < 0.001) and relapse tendency (t=7.81, P < 0.001). ② The length of drug use was inversely related to physical activity (β=0.156, P < 0.001) and intrinsic restriction (β=-0.147, P < 0.001), and positively related to drug craving (β=0.184, P < 0.001) as well as relapse tendency (β=0.122, P < 0.001).The introducing of years of drug use and physical activity together can better explain the internal restriction (R=0.093, P < 0.001), drug craving (R²=0.073, P < 0.001) and relapse tendency (R²=0.079, P < 0.001).③ Physical activity was negatively correlated with yearning for drugs and relapse tendency (R=-0.18 and -0.17), and positively correlated with intrinsic restraint (R=0.39);besides, intrinsic restraint was negatively correlated with yearning for drugs and relapse tendency (R=-0.32 and -0.26);and there was a positive correlation between yearning for drugs and relapse tendency (R=0.20). ④ Physical activity had a direct effect on relapse tendency, with an effect value of -0.167, intrinsic restraint(-0.103) and yearning for drugs (-0.037), showing a significant mediating role between physical activity and relapse tendency; the chain mediating force of intrinsic restraint-yearning for drugs was also significant (-0.026).

  Conclusion  To sum up, physical activity can affect the relapse tendency of AIDS patients undergoing compulsory detoxification not only through direct pathway, but through indirect pathways such as the mediating roles of intrinsic restraint and yearning for drugs as well as the chain mediation of intrinsic restraint-yearning for drugs.