Personality factors explain differences in alcoholic consumption among young adults

Abstract

The study addresses a possible relationship between personality factors and alcoholic consumption in an age and ethnically homogenous non-clinical population of young adults. Contrasting group design in which the total population (n = 300; 201 women, 99 men; mean age 24.5 years, SD = 4.8) was split into three different drinking groups (low-middle-high) according to percentile scores of the population's total yearly alcoholic consumption. We assessed personality factors using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) and the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS). Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVA). Controlling for gender in multivariate ANOVAs, we found that both low and elevated scores on the schizoid and avoidant scales, elevated scores on the histrionic, the anti-social, and the anxiety and the bipolar-manic disorders scale were all linked to increased alcoholic intake. Elevated scores on the compulsive scale were linked to less drinking. The MCMI scales assessing the probability of drug and alcohol dependence and the AISS sensation-seeking scores were associated with increased drinking. These two last MCMI scales and the AISS could be used as simple screening instruments for assessment of drinking problems. The results are relevant for designing targeted prevention and early intervention programmes for reduced drinking among young adults.

Keywords:

• Personality alcohol young adults