Do Meaning in life, Ideological Commitment, and Level of Religiosity, Related Adolescent Substance Abuse and Attitude?

Abstract

The present study focuses on expanding and broadening the connection between meaning in life and psychoactive substance abuse. Since professional literature presents an individual’s meaning in life as an immunizing factor against substance abuse, the present study sought to examine the impact of level of religiosity and level of ideological-political commitment, through the prism of meaning in life, on the attitudes adopted by adolescents towards such abuse, and their actual use of the various substances. The findings of the study, in which 1032 Israeli adolescents aged 14 to 18 took part, supported the hypothesis whereby a high level of religiosity “immunizes” against psychoactive substance abuse. However, they also indicate that despite the negative approach to it among individuals with high levels of ideological commitment, no significant correlation can be found between ideological commitment and actual psychoactive substance abuse. The study findings underscore the importance of both religion and ideological commitment in the formation of meaning in life by youth, as well as the impact of social supervision and perceived norms in their environment, with regard to their willingness to attempt using psychoactive substances, and their actual use thereof. The study findings contribute both to research and practical application when constructing programs for the prevention of normative adolescent substance abuse.