Predisposing personality traits and socio-familial factors of tendency toward substance use among soldiers

Abstract

Military forces are among vulnerable groups to high-risk behaviors, especially substance use. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the role of personality traits and socio-familial factors in the prediction of risk of substance use among soldiers. A total of 309 soldiers doing military service in Tehran, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling, and completed measures included risk of substance use, personality traits, and social and familial risk/protective factors. Current results showed significant relationships between personality traits and socio-familial factors with tendency toward substance use. Moreover, linear regression analyses indicated that personality traits (i.e., conscientiousness and agreeableness), social factors (i.e., friends’ substance use and social disorganization), and familial factors (i.e., parents’ positive attitude toward substance use) were significantly associated with tendency toward smoking, drug use, and alcohol use in soldiers. Multimodal interventions targeting individual, familial, and social vulnerabilities may help reduce adjustment problems among Iranian soldiers.

Keywords:

• Personality traits
• social factors
• familial factors
• substance use
• soldiers

Declaration of interest

There are no sources of funding or conflicts of interest to report. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.