Unrealistic Optimism and Psychoactive Substance Use among Students at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effect of unrealistic feelings of optimism on substance use among students. The quantitative approach adopted made it possible to interview a sample of sixty (60) students selected via the accidental sampling technique by questionnaire. The collected data were analysed descriptively and then using the Chi-square test. The results obtained show that students who overestimate the probability that only positive events will happen to them, rather than adverse events, use psychoactive substances more than their peers who consider both possibilities. Such a result makes it possible to highlight, in part, the reasons why some adolescents continue to adopt behaviours that represent a risk to their health. It is therefore crucial to consider the effect of socio-cognitive biases in the development of policies to address substance use among young people.