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Substance use: A life skills perspective

L’utilisation de substances nocives chez des sujets de 18 à 20 ans, à la lumière de leurs habiletés et savoir-faire de base

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Abstract

The paper proposes a life skills perspective for understanding substance use, in which generative and context based competences and control strategies are central. Within that framework, reasons for substance use, general goal related competence, and specific strategies used to control substance use were examined for 360 young people (144 males, 216 females) aged 18–20 years. Relationships were established between frequency of use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and participants’ self reported knowledge of methods and effects of use, as well as of how much use was made of knowledge of effects in social situations. Participants also answered short tests on actual knowledge of effects and results on these were related to the extent of use reported. Finally perceptions of the best ways to learn about the effects of using these substances were related to patterns of reported use. The results supported the application of the life skills perspective to the domain of substance use in six areas; goal orientation; perceived competence; control over one’s actions; contextual competence; personality traits; and utilisation of knowledge. Educational strategies to develop this perspective were suggested.

Résumé

Cette étude se propose de contribuer à la compréhension de l’usage de substances nocives (tabac, alcool, marijuana, heroïne, etc.) chez 360 jeunes des deux sexes de 18 à 20 ans (144 hommes, 216 femmes). Elle tient compte des données démographiques et du contexte dans lequel se situe l’usage des substances nocives, ainsi que des raisons ou stratégies qui conduisent à l’utilisation ou à une limitation de leur contrôle.

On a établi une relation entre la fréquence et la méthode d’utilisation des substances nocives considérées et l’explication que donnent les sujets de leur connaissance des méthodes et des effets de cette utilisation.

Pour une meilleure appréciation des résultats de l’enquête faite en 1987, en Nouvelles Galles du Sud et au Queensland (Australie), les lecteurs francophones se reporteront avec profit au vocabulaire anglo-saxon de l’échelle des compétences de Maslow qui sert de cadre à un certain nombre de suggestions de stratégies éducatives.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Monash University, 3186, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Millicent Poole

  2. Department of Education, University of Queensland, 4067, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia

    Glen Evans

Authors
  1. Millicent Poole
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  2. Glen Evans
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Additional information

This is a joint project. The order of names for authorship is alternated. We acknowledge the financial support provided by the Australia Research Grants Scheme and the Special Research Grants Schemes of Monash University and the University of Queensland.

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Poole, M., Evans, G. Substance use: A life skills perspective. Eur J Psychol Educ 2, 403–419 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172624

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03172624

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