Roles of gender, social anxiety and extraversion in drinking patterns among Nigerian students

Abstract

Background

Effective interventions to curb the growing alcohol use problem in African countries require an understanding of critical factors associated with drinking patterns. Previous studies have examined the contributions of gender, social anxiety and extraversion in alcohol use, but little research exists on the operationalization of drinking patterns as high-risk situations for alcohol use, and the contributions of these factors. This study is aimed at filling this gap.

Methods

Participants were 276 students (males 52.2%) of a university in south-eastern Nigeria. They completed validated measures of social anxiety, extraversion and drinking patterns (financial, physiological, interpersonal, marital and emotional).

Results

Hierarchical multiple linear regression results showed that male students were more likely than female students to drink alcohol in situations related to financial, interpersonal, and emotional issues, but both genders were similarly involved in alcohol use in physiological and marital relationship issues. Social anxiety and extraversion did not have significant associations with drinking patterns. Being married or in romantic relationship was associated with higher drinking frequency.

Conclusion

Attention should be given to the use of alcohol in the context of romantic relationships for male and female students.

Keywords:

• Alcohol use
• drinking patterns
• extraversion
• gender
• social anxiety

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

Authors did not receive any funding for this study.