préoccupations

Préoccupations is the French noun for concerns or matters that occupy a person’s thoughts or attention. It can refer to personal concerns—such as work, health, finances, or family—as well as broader issues that shape daily life, like the economy, security, or climate. The term emphasizes the cognitive or emotional weight attached to these matters rather than their objective importance alone.

Originating from pré- ("before") and occupier/occuper ("to occupy"), préoccupation derives from Latin praeoccupatio, meaning "a preceding occupation." In modern French the noun appears as préoccupation and its plural préoccupations, with the related verb préoccuper meaning "to occupy (the mind)" or "to concern."

In psychology, préoccupation can denote intrusive or persistent thoughts that occupy attention. When such preoccupations are frequent or distressing, they may relate to anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive tendencies, though the term is also used in everyday language to describe ordinary concerns. In sociology and political discourse, collectively held préoccupations shape media coverage, policy priorities, and public dialogue, influencing how issues are framed and acted upon.

See also: préoccuper (to concern, to occupy the mind), préoccupation (singular form), and related terms for discussing mental focus and public concerns.