Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychological Well-Being of Thai Drug Users: Implications for Prevention

  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the psychological well-being of Thai drug users. Four dependent variables (purpose in life, life satisfaction, life goals, and happiness) are addressed. Duration of drug use, the independent variable, consisted of two categories: short-term (less than 12 months) and long-term (more than 24 months). Results showed that subjects (n = 163) have a low level of psychological well-being. Positive correlations among psychological well-being variables in the Thai drug user population were found. However, there were no significant differences between short-term and long-term drug users. Implications of psychological well-being for prevention of drug abuse are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Argyle, M., & Crossland, J. (1987). The dimensions of positive emotions. British Journal of Social Psychology, 26, 127–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Crossland, J. (1989). Happiness as a function of personality and social encounters. In J. P., Forgas, & J. M. Innes, (Eds.), Recent advances in social psychology: An international perspective (pp. 189–203). Amsterdam: North Halland, Elsevier Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Argyle, M., Martin, M., & Lu, L. (1995). Testing for stress and happiness: The role of social and cognitive factors. In C. D. Spielberger, & I. G. Sarason, (Eds.), Stress and emotion: Anxiety, anger, and curiosity (pp. 173–187). Philadelphia, PA: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arrindell, W. A., Nieuwenhuizhen, C., & Luteijn, F. (2001). Chronic psychiatric status and satisfaction with life. Personality and Individual Differences, 31, 145–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Assanangkornchai, S., Conigrave, K. M., & Saunders, J. B. (2002). Religious beliefs and practice, and alcohol use in Thai men. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 37, 193–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caplan, G. (1964). Principles of preventive psychiatry. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crumbaugh, J. C., & Maholick, M. D. (1981). The manual of instructions for the Purpose in Life Test. Murfreesboro, TN: Psychometric Affiliates.

    Google Scholar 

  • De La Flor, M. A. (1997). Meaning levels and drug-abuse therapy: An empirical study. The International Forum for Logotherapy, 20, 46–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elias, M. J., Gager, P., & Leon, S. (1997). Spreading a warm blanket of prevention over all children: Guidelines for selecting substance abuse and related prevention curricula for use in the school. Journal of Primary Prevention, 18, 41–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fordyce, M. W. (1983). A program to increase happiness: Further studies. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 30, 483–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis, L. J., Brown, L. B., Lester, D., & Philipchalk, R. (1998). Happiness as stable extraversion: A cross-cultural examination of the reliability and validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory among students in the U.K., USA, Australia, and Canada. Personality Individual Differences, 24, 167–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1969). The will to meaning: Foundations and applications of logotherapy. New York: New American Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frankl, V. (1984). Man's search for meaning. Boston: Washington Square Press. (Originally published in 1946).

  • Griffin, K. W., Scheier, L. M., Botvin, G. L., & Diaz, T. (2001). Protective role of personal competence skills in adolescent substance use: Psychological well-being as a mediating factor. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 15, 194–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harlow, L. L., & Newcomb, M. D. (1990). Towards a general hierarchical model of meaning and satisfaction in life. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25, 378–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (1993). A dark side of the American dream: Correlates of financial success as a central life aspiration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 410–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, T., & Ryan, R. M. (1996). Further examining the American dream: Differential correlates of intrinsic and extrinsic goals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 280– 287.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Narcotics Control Board. (2003). Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2003. [Data File]. Available form the International Narcotics Control Websites, http://www.incb.org.

  • Musick, M. A., Blazer, D. G., & Hays, J. C. (2000). Religious activities, alcohol use, and depression in a sample of elderly Baptists. Research on Aging, 21, 91–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neto, F. (1993). The Satisfaction With Life Scale: Psychometrics properties in an adolescent sample. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 22, 125–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newcomb, M. D., & Harlow, L. L. (1986). Life events and substance use among adolescents: Mediating effects of perceived loss of control and meaninglessness in life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 564–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Office of the Narcotics Control Board. (2002). Thailand narcotics annual report, 2002 [Data File]. Available form the Office of the Narcotics Control Board Websites, http://www.oncb.go.th.

  • Oishi, S., & Diener, E. (2001). Re-examining the general positivity model of subjective well-being: The discrepancy between specific and global domain satisfaction. Journal of Personality, 69, 641–667.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oishi, S., Diener, E., Lucas, R. E., & Suh, E. M. (1999). Cross-cultural variation indicators of life satisfaction: Perspectives from needs and values. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 980–990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peak, A. (2001). Drug use and HIV/AIDS in Thailand in the year 2000. [Data File]. Available form the Asian Harm Reduction Network, Family Health International Asia Regional Office Websites, http://www.ahrn.net

  • Romano, J. L., & Hage, S. M. (2000). Prevention and counseling psychology: Revitalization commitments for the 21st century. The Counseling Psychologist, 28, 733–763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Royal Thai Embassy. (2003). Fact sheet on the Royal Thai Government's anti-narcotic drugs policy, 2003.[Data File]. Available form the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, DC. Websites, http://www.thaiembdc.org.

  • Ryan, R. M., Chirkov, V. I., Little, T. D., Sheldon, K. M., Timoshina, E., & Deci, E. L. (1999). The American dream in Russia: Extrinsic aspirations and well-being in two cultures. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 25, 1509–1524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069–1081.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719–727.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmela-Aro, K., & Nurmi, J. (1997). Goal contents, well-being, and life context during transition to university: A longitudinal study. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 20, 471–491.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmuck, P. (2001). Intrinsic and extrinsic life goals preferences as measured via inventories and via priming methodologies: Mean differences and relations with well-being. In P., Schmuck, & K. M. Sheldon, (Eds.), Life goals and well-being: Towards a positive psychology of human striving (pp. 132–147). Seattle: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmutte, P. S., & Ryff, C. D. (1997). Personality and well-being: Reexamining methods and meanings. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 549–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheldon, K. M., & Schmuck, P. (2001). Suggestions for healthy goal striving. In P., Schmuck, & K. M., Sheldon, (Eds.), Life goals and well-being: Towards a positive psychology of human striving(pp. 216–230). Seattle: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, P. L, Schumaker, J. F., Dorahy, M. J., & Shrestha, S. N. (1996). Depression and life satisfaction in Nepal and Australia. The Journal of Social Psychology, 136, 783–788.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thananart, M, Tori, C. D., & Emavardhana, T. (2000). A longitudinal study of psychosocial changes among Thai adolescents participating in a Buddhist ordination program for novices. Adolescence, 35, 285–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thunyarak Hospital. (2002). An annual report of Thunyarak Hospital in 2000–2001. Bangkok, Thailand: Medical Services Department, Ministry of Public Health.

  • Tuicomepee, A. (2001). Development of purpose-in-life scales of Thai undergraduate students. Thai Mental Health Journal, 9, 18–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuicomepee, A. (2002). Meaning and satisfaction in life of Thai youth drug addicts Thai Mental Health Journal, 10, 151–160.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Counseling Psychology Program, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Arunya Tuicomepee (Assistant Professor, PhD student)

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology Program, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA

    Arunya Tuicomepee (Assistant Professor, PhD student)

  3. Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Student Personnel Psychology Program, University of Minnesota, Minnesota, USA

    John L. Romano (Professor)

  4. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, 130 Burton Hall, Minneapolis, MN, 55155, USA

    John L. Romano (Professor)

Authors
  1. Arunya Tuicomepee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John L. Romano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John L. Romano.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tuicomepee, A., Romano, J.L. Psychological Well-Being of Thai Drug Users: Implications for Prevention. Int J Adv Counselling 27, 431–444 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-005-8204-x

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-005-8204-x

Key Words

Search

Navigation