Temporal orientation and consumption of psychoactive substances by adolescents and young adults
Introduction. Temporal orientation is an essential data of the human psyche that modulates how we relate to the times of life. It is the subjective perception, in the here and now, of our positioning with respect to the past, the present and the future. Many young people met in psychological consultation have confused temporal orientation, being sometimes trapped in memories or incapable to stop from activities. The temporal Orientation Test (TOT) aims to measure this position to the time of life, based on four dimensions: (1) Short term ; (2) Anticipation ; (3) Immediateness ; (4) Long term. Objectives. This survey explores the links between psychoactive substance use (tobacco, alcohol and cannabis) and temporal orientation of French teenagers and young adults. It also describes a way to use the temporal orientation test in working with adolescents and young adults at risk. Methods. The sample is based of 507 young adults aged of 15 to 29 years living in Nantes (France). Instruments are the Test of Temporal Orientation and substance use measures, including the AUDIT. Results. The results show significant relationships between the substance use and several temporal orientations. The temporal orientation centered on the “Immediateness” and the “Short term” can predict alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use. Conclusion. This survey advances that temporal orientation is a psychological construct that must be considered as a risk factor in the addiction field.