Substance use: depressive symptomatology, desire for control and time perspective

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the depressive symptomatology of drug users in Greece. More specifically, the study aimed at evaluating the severity of depression in this population in relation to desire for control (DC) and time perspective (TP). The sample consisted of 172 drug users, members of a rehabilitation program for substance use in Greece, who completed three questionnaires on Depressive Symptomatology, Desirability for Control and TP. Results indicated significant correlations between depressive symptomatology and TP. Particularly, future TP was inversely related to depressive symptomatology, while past and present positively. Among DC factors, only “relinquish control” was related to depression. It is worthwhile to mention that the rehabilitation program appeared to be an important protective factor against depression in drug users. Collectively, the rehabilitation program together with fatalistic time orientation accounted for about 37% of the variance in explaining depression. Implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• depressive symptomatology
• desire for control
• time perspective
• drug use
• rehabilitation program