Meaning of Life-Setting Life Goals: Comparison of Substance Abusers and Non-Abusers

Year 2014, Volume: 5 Issue: 42, 0 - , 14.10.2014

Ali Eryılmaz

Abstract

The present study aims to make a comparison between young men who are substance-abusers and non-abusers in terms of how they set their life goals and attribute meanings to life. In line with this purpose, this study was conducted through quantitative and qualitative method. In the quantitative analysis, the study group consists of 108 participants between 20 and 24 years old, 56 of whom are substance abusers and 52 of whom are non-substance abusers. In the qualitative analysis, the study group involves 30 substance abusers and 30 non-substance abusers. The scale of setting life goals in terms of positive psychotherapy and the semi-structured qualitative interview form was used in order to collect data. The independent t-test and sentence-based content analysis technique was used to analyze data. The findings revealed that the substance abusers were having difficulty in attributing meaning to their lives when compared to the non-abusers. Moreover, the substance abusers were capable of setting far fewer life goals than were the non-abusers.

Keywords

madde, madde bağımlısı, yaşamın anlamı, yaşam amaçları

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