HomeCannabis MedicineDo personality characteristics predict future alcohol problems after considering current demography, substance use and alcohol response?

Do personality characteristics predict future alcohol problems after considering current demography, substance use and alcohol response?

April 20, 2023

Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2023 Apr 18. doi: 10.1111/acer.15085. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Several personality traits predict future alcohol problems but also relate to demographic and substance-related variables that themselves correlate with later adverse alcohol outcomes. Few prospective studies have evaluated whether the personality measures predict alcohol problems after considering current demography and substance related variables.

METHODS: Data from 414 drinkers without alcohol use disorder (AUD) from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (average age 20, 44% male) were followed over an average of nine years. Time 1 (baseline) demography, AUD family history (FH), substance use and problems, and psychiatric histories were gathered using a standardized interview, the Level of Response (LR) to alcohol was measured by the Self-Report of the Effects of alcohol (SRE) questionnaire, and seven personality dimensions were extracted from the NEO Five-Factor Personality, Barratt and Zuckerman scales. Analyses involved product-moment correlations of each baseline measure with the highest number of DSM-IV AUD criteria endorsed in any follow-up period, and hierarchical regression analyses evaluated if the personality domains added significantly to the prediction of the outcome after adjusting for other baseline variables.

RESULTS: Significant correlations to the outcome were observed for baseline age, sex, length of follow-up, AUD family history, past cannabis use, and all alcohol-related baseline variables, including SRE-based Level of Response, but not prior mood or anxiety disorders. All personality characteristics except extraversion also correlated with outcomes. A hierarchical regression analysis that included all relevant personality scores together demonstrated significant contributions to the prediction of future alcohol problems for demography in Step 1, demography and most baseline alcohol items, including response level, in Step 2, and cannabis use in Step 3, after which demography, Level of Response, baseline alcohol problems, cannabis use, and higher sensation seeking added significantly in Step 4. Regression for each personality domain separately revealed significant contributions to Step 4 for all personality domains except openness.

CONCLUSIONS: Most tested personality scores contributed to predictions of later alcohol problems even after considering baseline demography and substance use. Lower Levels of Response to alcohol added significantly to all regression analyses.

PMID:37073476 | DOI:10.1111/acer.15085

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.