Investigating mental representations of psychoactive substance use and other potentially addictive behaviors using a data driven network-based clustering method.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The aim of the present study was to examine the mental representations of the use of different substances and other potentially addictive behaviors in order to explore meaningful similarities and differences that may contribute to a better understanding of behavioral addictions' representations and diagnostic criteria.

Methods

The authors mapped the mental and emotional representations of 661 participants (70.5% women; Mage = 35.2 years, SD = 11.7) to the concept "your most disturbing excessive activity" using free-word associations combined with a network-based clustering method.

Results

The network analyses identified four distinct mental representations, three implicating dominantly negative (Guilt/Shame/Relief, Addiction/Health, and Procrastina

SUBMITTER: File D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10586681 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature