PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS AND MOTIVATIONAL FEATURES OF NICOTINE DEPENDENCE IN YOUTH STUDENTS

Abstract

The article carries out a theoretical and empirical study of the problem of nicotine addiction formation in the student environment and identifies psychological determinants and motivational features. It is noted that the relevance of the study is due to the rapid spread of tobacco smoking among young people and the need to find new approaches to the prevention of addictive behavior in the context of modern socio-psychological challenges. The essence of nicotine addiction as a complex socio-psychological phenomenon is clarified, which is determined not only by physiological factors, but also by socio-cultural attitudes, group values, and subcultural fashion. The results of an empirical study conducted at the State Tax University are analyzed. Using validated tools (K. Fagerström test, Horn questionnaire, Smoking Severity Index test), it was established that the majority of students are characterized by weak and medium levels of addiction. Special attention is paid to studying the motivational structure of tobacco smoking among young people. It was found that the leading motives for using nicotine products are the desire for psychological support in stressful situations and relaxation. It was established that smoking often acts as an illusory coping strategy aimed at reducing social anxiety and emotional self regulation. The presence of gender differences in the structure of motivation is proven: for women, smoking is more often a means of emotional relief, while for men it is an attribute of socialization and leisure. The psychological determinants that support the development of addiction at the stage of adolescence, when physical dependence is not yet dominant, are specified. The use of the research results for the development of differentiated psychoprophylactic and psychocorrectional programs aimed at forming stress resistance skills and conscious rejection of addictive patterns in students is justified. The need to transition from general prohibitive methods to the development of emotional intelligence and valeological consciousness of the individual is noted.