Associations of Personality with Alcohol Use Behaviour and Alcohol Problems in Adolescents Receiving Child Welfare Services

Abstract

Four specific personality factors have been theorized to put adolescents at risk for alcohol abuse: hopelessness (HOP), anxiety sensitivity (AS), sensation seeking (SS), and impulsivity (IMP). We examined relations of these personality factors to various alcohol-related indices in a sample at high risk for alcohol problems-specifically, a child welfare sample. Adolescents (n=197; mean age=16.8 years; 43% males) receiving services through Ontario Child Protective Services participated. Personality was assessed with the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS). Alcohol-related outcomes were assessed with the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey (OSDUHS). Results showed that, consistent with theory, HOP, SS, and IMP were all positively correlated with overall drinking levels and overall alcohol problems on the OSDUHS. Unexpectedly, AS was negatively correlated with overall drinking levels and was unrelated to the OSDUHS overall alcohol problems factor. Consistent with hypothesis, HOP was related to an increased likelihood of receiving treatment for an alcohol problem. But, despite greater drinking levels and alcohol problems, IMP was related to a decreased likelihood of receiving alcohol treatment. In addition, SS and HOP were related to earlier onset drinking. Additional exploratory analyses revealed that AS was positively associated with difficulties stopping drinking and negatively associated with discussing such difficulties with school personnel. Implications for treatment and prevention of heavy drinking and alcohol problems in child welfare youth are discussed.

Adaptación a la población española de la Escala de Perfil de Riesgo de Consumo de Drogas (EPRCD) y estudio de sus propiedades psicométricas

“…Como ya hemos mencionado, estudios anteriores también han encontrado que este rasgo de personalidad no se relaciona con estas medidas de consumo de alcohol. Es más, en algunos casos se ha hallado una relación negativa entre AS y frecuencia de uso de alcohol (Krank et al, 2011;Stewart et al, 2011;Woicik et al, 2009). La subescala H correlacionó con ítem 4 («¿Con qué frecuencia en el curso del último año ha sido incapaz de parar de beber una vez había empezado?»), ítem 6 («¿Con qué frecuencia en el curso del último año ha necesitado beber en ayunas para recuperarse después de haber bebido mucho el día anterior?»), ítem 7 («¿Con qué frecuencia en el curso del último año ha tenido remordimientos o sentimientos de culpa después de haber bebido?») e ítem 8 («¿Con qué frecuencia en el curso del último año no ha podido recordar lo que sucedió la noche anterior porque había estado bebiendo?»).…”

Testing the four-factor model of personality vulnerability to alcohol misuse: A three-wave, one-year longitudinal study.

“…Individuals high in hopelessness are theorized to misuse alcohol by drinking to manage or reduce their feelings of depression (i.e., coping-depression motives). Cross-sectional research shows hopelessness is positively correlated with general coping motives and alcohol problems in adolescents and undergraduates (Stewart, McGonnell, Wekerle, & Adlaf, 2011; Woicik et al, 2009), and coping motives may mediate the relationship between hopelessness and excessive drinking in Aboriginal youth (Stewart, Sherry et al, 2011). Further, preliminary longitudinal evidence suggests hopelessness may confer vulnerability to increased alcohol problems in a four-wave, 18-month study (Castellanos-Ryan, O’Leary-Barrett, Sully, & Conrod, 2013) and in a two-wave, 1-year study (Krank et al, 2011).…”

Personality to Prescription Drug Misuse in Adolescents: Testing Affect Regulation, Psychological Dysregulation, and Deviance Proneness Pathways

“…Traits from Pihl and Peterson's ( 25 ) four-factor personality vulnerability model have proven useful in predicting adolescent alcohol ( 42 ) and illicit drug use ( 43 , 44 ), emerging adult PD use ( 31 , 45 ), and adult PD use ( 30 ). This model has yet to be applied to adolescent PD misuse.…”