Understanding the associations between the five-factor model, harmful alcohol consumption and problematic internet use in university students

ABSTRACT

Alcohol consumption and Internet use are highly prevalent behaviours among young adults and previous research has suggested that different addictive behaviours might be distinctly associated with personality. This study examined the role of big-5 personality traits in alcohol consumption and Internet use. Alcohol consumption, internet use, and personality traits were assessed on 457 Portuguese university students. Higher levels of neuroticism, and lower levels of conscientiousness and agreeableness were found to be associated both with harmful alcohol use and problematic internet use. Openness to experience was not correlated with either behaviour. Multiple linear regression showed that conscientiousness might be an important predictor of both alcohol consumption and Internet use. There is an important overlap in personality traits related to alcohol and the use of internet, but there are also clear differences in what regards extraversion. Conscientiousness should be promoted as a preventive strategy.

KEYWORDS:

• Personality
• big-5
• harmful alcohol use
• problematic internet use

Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, João Tiago Oliveira. The data are not publicly available due to containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (UID/PSI/01662/2019), through national funds (PIDDAC). Dr. Oliveira was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through national funds, within the scope of the Transitory Disposition of Decree No. 57/2016, of 29 August, amended by Law No. 57/2017 of 19 July. Maria Faria (2023.05175.BD) and Divo Faustino (2022.14402.BD) were also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology with doctoral scholarships.

Notes on contributors

Maria João Faria

Maria Faria is a PhD student in the Doctoral Program of Psychology at the University of Minho.

Divo Faustino

Divo Faustino is a PhD student in the Doctoral Program of Psychology at the University of Minho.

Eduardo López-Caneda

Eduardo Caneda, PhD, is a Junior Researcher of the Psychology Research Centre – CIPsi (Psychotherapy and Psychopathology Research Unit) – University of Minho, Portugal.

Alberto Crego

Alberto Crego, PhD, is a Junior Researcher of the Psychology Research Centre – CIPsi (Psychotherapy and Psychopathology Research Unit) – University of Minho, Portugal.

Miguel M. Gonçalves

Miguel M. Gonçalves is Full Professor and the current President of Psychology at the School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal.

João Tiago Oliveira

João Tiago Oliveira, PhD, is a Junior Researcher of the Psychology Research Centre – CIPsi (Psychotherapy and Psychopathology Research Unit) – University of Minho, Portugal.