Sense of Purpose in Life and Likelihood of Future Illicit Drug Use or Prescription Medication Misuse.

TitleSense of Purpose in Life and Likelihood of Future Illicit Drug Use or Prescription Medication Misuse.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsKim, ES, Ryff, CD, Hassett, A, Brummett, C, Yeh, C, Strecher, VJ
JournalPsychosomatic Medicine
Volume82
Issue7
Pagination715-721
Date Published2020 09
ISSN Number1534-7796
KeywordsDrug use, Sense of purpose
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In the United States, 28.6 million people used illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs in the last 30 days. Thus, identifying factors linked with lower likelihood of future drug misuse is an important target for research and practice. Sense of purpose in life has been linked with better behavioral and physical health outcomes. Furthermore, a higher sense of purpose may reduce the likelihood of drug misuse because it has been linked with several protective factors including enhanced ability to handle stress, higher pain tolerance, and lower impulsivity. However, the association between sense of purpose and drug misuse has been understudied. Thus, we tested whether people with a higher sense of purpose at baseline had a lower likelihood of future drug misuse 9 to 10 years later.

METHODS: This study included 3535 middle-aged adults from the Midlife in the United States Study who were not misusing drugs at baseline. Using multiple logistic regression models, we assessed whether baseline purpose in life was associated with risk of misusing drugs 9 to 10 years later.

RESULTS: Among respondents not misusing drugs at baseline, people in the highest quartile of purpose (versus lowest quartile) had a substantially lower likelihood of future drug misuse in a model adjusting for demographic variables (odds ratio = 0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.31-0.83). Associations remained evident after additionally adjusting for psychological distress, baseline health, and health behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS: A growing knowledge base suggests that a sense of purpose can be increased. Additional research is needed to evaluate sense of purpose as a novel target in the prevention and reduction of drug misuse.

DOI10.1097/PSY.0000000000000842
Citation Key11107
PubMed ID32697442
PubMed Central IDPMC7484217
Grant ListK99 AG055696 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG020166 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U19 AG051426 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG009740 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States