Enjoyment modulators in addicted patients from therapeutic communities in Cuba and Colombia, 2019

Abstract

Introduction: The modulators of rewarding experiences constitute contents that have been identified with the term "gaudibility" and are processes that mediate between stimuli and the enjoyment that is experienced. Objectives: To identify the particularities of the enjoyment modulators in addicted patients participating in therapeutic communities of Cuba and Colombia and to determine the general and specific level of gaudibility of both study groups. Methods: It is a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study that was based on the application of the Padrós Gaudibility Scale (EGP), a version validated for the Cuban population and with cultural adaptation for the Colombian population. The evaluations were carried out in the second semester of 2019. The population was made up of 51 subjects (25 Cubans and 26 Colombians). Results: The predominant modulators of enjoyment in the participants of both therapeutic communities were interest, imagination, perceived competence and future perspective. However, among Colombians, modulators related to the lifestyle itself (company and solitude) were highly relevant. In both cases, mean gaudibility values were determined, which corresponds to the results of the therapeutic work carried out in both communities. Similar results were obtained in both study groups. The minimum differences were in the average age and in the time of higher consumption of Colombians. Regarding the level of gaudibility in both communities, average values were specified. Among the modulators of enjoyment, interest, imagination, perceived competence and future perspective were predominant.