Bidirectional Relations of Impulsive Personality and Alcohol Use Across Three Waves of Data Collection

Personality changes related to presence and treatment of substance use (disorders): a systematic review

Heavy substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) have complex etiologies and often severe consequences. Certain personality traits have been associated with an increased risk for SU(D), but far less is known about personality changes related to SU(D). This review aims to synthesize the existing literature on this research question. A systematic literature search was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 in PubMed, EbscoHost, and Web of Science. Peer-reviewed original papers on SU(D)-related personality changes were included. Of 55 included studies, 38 were observational population-based studies and 17 were intervention studies. Overall, personality and SU measures, samples, study designs, and statistical approaches were highly heterogenous. In observational studies, higher SU was most consistently related to increases in impulsivity-related traits and (less so) neuroticism, while interventions in the context of SU(D) were mostly associated with increases in conscientiousness and self-efficacy and lasting decreases in neuroticism. Findings for traits related to extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were mixed and depended on SU measure and age. Studies on bidirectional associations suggest that personality and SU(D) both influence each other over time. Due to their strong association with SU(D), impulsivity-related traits may be important target points for interventions. Future work may investigate the mechanisms underlying personality changes related to SU(D), distinguishing substance-specific effects from general SU(D)-related processes like withdrawal, craving, and loss of control. Furthermore, more research is needed to examine whether SU(D)-related personality changes vary by developmental stage and clinical features (e.g. initial use, onset, remission, and relapse).

Have the personality and socio-demographic profiles of Australian adolescent drinkers changed?

INTRODUCTION

Adolescent alcohol consumption has been declining across many countries, with rates of abstinence also increasing among younger cohorts. A range of socio-demographic variables and personality traits are associated with alcohol use; however, no study has examined whether the relationship between personality and drinking has changed over time as adolescent drinking has declined.

METHODS

Data from 15- to 17-year-old respondents were extracted from four waves (2004/2005, 2008/2009, 2012/2013, 2016/2017) of a long running Australian cohort study. Logistic regression analyses with interaction terms were used to determine whether personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability) and socio-demographic variables (age, gender, equivalised income, family structure, cultural background, school attendance and regionality) significantly differed between drinkers and abstainers and whether these relationships changed across cohorts.

RESULTS

The prevalence of drinking for 15- to 17-year-olds significantly declined over each survey wave from 54% in 2004/2005 to 24% in 2016/2017. Conscientiousness (odds ratio [OR] 0.82, confidence interval [CI] = 0.73, 0.93), extraversion ([OR] 1.25, [CI] = 1.11, 1.40) and emotional stability ([OR] 0.73, [CI] = 0.64, 0.83) were all significant predictors of alcohol consumption. No significant interactions between cohort and personality traits or socio-demographic variables were found.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The study found no evidence to indicate that the relationship between adolescent alcohol consumption and personality has changed. Similarly, socio-demographic relationships with drinking were stable as drinking prevalence dropped by more than half. This adds to the evidence that drinking declines among adolescents are spread broadly across the population and not concentrated within identifiable sub-groups of young people.

A longitudinal test of problematic alcohol use and binge eating among college women: The moderating role of shame

Problematic alcohol use and binge eating frequently co-occur. High levels of negative affect, negative urgency, and/or shame may increase the likelihood that problematic alcohol use and binge eating co-occur over time.

OBJECTIVE

Examine 1) the temporal relationship between problematic alcohol use and binge eating among college women, who are at high risk for both, and 2) the additive and moderating effects of shared, emotion-based risk factors in models involving both problematic alcohol use and binge eating.

METHOD

In n = 302 college women assessed at two time points across 8 months, we used hierarchical linear regression to invstigate our objectives.

RESULTS

Baseline problematic alcohol use and baseline shame independently predicted increases in follow-up binge eating, controlling for baseline binge eating. In addition, the interaction between problematic alcohol use and shame accounted for further variance in subsequent binge eating (the influence of baseline problematic alcohol use on follow-up binge eating was stronger at higher levels of baseline shame). The reciprocal relationship was not significant: baseline binge eating did not predict follow-up problematic alcohol use independently or in conjunction with risk factors. Neither negative affect nor negative urgency showed predictive effects beyond prior behavior and shame. Results support 1) problematic alcohol use as a prospective risk factor for binge eating, 2) shame as an additive predictor of binge eating, and 3) shame as a positive moderator of binge eating prediction from problem drinking.

CONCLUSION

Addressing shame and problematic alcohol use may be warranted in binge eating interventions for college women.

Personality-specific pathways from bullying victimization to adolescent alcohol use: a multilevel longitudinal moderated mediation analysis

Bullying victimization is common in adolescence and has been associated with a broad variety of psychopathology and alcohol use. The present study assessed time-varying associations between bullying victimization and alcohol use through internalizing and externalizing symptoms and whether this indirect association throughout time is moderated by personality. This 5-year longitudinal study (3,800 grade 7 adolescents) used Bayesian multilevel moderated mediation models: independent variable was bullying victimization; moderators were four personality dimensions (anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, impulsivity, and sensation seeking); internalizing symptoms (anxiety, depressive symptoms) and externalizing symptoms (conduct, hyperactivity problems) were the mediators; and alcohol use, the outcome. Results indicated significant between, within, and lagged effects on alcohol use through internalizing and externalizing symptoms. There were significant between and within effects on alcohol use through internalizing symptoms for adolescents with high anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness, and significant between, within, and lagged effects on alcohol use through externalizing symptoms for adolescents with high impulsivity and sensation seeking. These findings implicate two risk pathways that account for how bullying victimization enhances alcohol use risk and emphasize the importance of personality profiles that can shape the immediate and long-term consequences of victimization.

Cognitive fitness modulates gender differences in sleep and mental health among competitive athletes under chronic stress

Objectives: Mental fitness is increasingly considered a key component of an athlete’s competitive arsenal. Active domains of mental fitness include cognitive fitness, sleep, and mental health; and these domains can differ between men and women athletes. Our study investigated the associations of cognitive fitness and gender to sleep and mental health, and the interaction between cognitive fitness and gender on sleep and mental health, in competitive athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: 82 athletes competing at levels from regional/state to international (49% women, M-age = 23.3 years) completed measures of self-control, intolerance of uncertainty, and impulsivity (together representing constructs of cognitive fitness), items about sleep (total sleep time, sleep latency, and mid-sleep time on free days) and a measure of mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress).

Results: Women athletes reported lower self-control, higher intolerance of uncertainty, and higher positive urgency impulsivity compared with men athletes. Women reported sleeping later, but this gender difference disappeared after controlling for cognitive fitness. Women athletes—after controlling for cognitive fitness—reported higher depression, anxiety, and stress. Across genders, higher self-control was associated with lower depression, and lower intolerance of uncertainty was associated with lower anxiety. Higher sensation seeking was associated with lower depression and stress, and higher premeditation was associated with greater total sleep time and anxiety. Higher perseverance was associated with higher depression for men—but not women—athletes.

Conclusion: Women athletes in our sample reported poorer cognitive fitness and mental health compared to men athletes. Most cognitive fitness factors protected competitive athletes under chronic stress, but some exposed them to poorer mental health. Future work should examine the sources of gender differences. Our findings suggest a need to develop tailored interventions aimed at improving athlete wellbeing, with a particular focus on women athletes.

Sensation Seeking and Substance use in Chinese Adolescents: Longitudinal Trajectories and Prospective Within-person Associations

Sensation seeking has been extensively demonstrated as a risk factor for substance use. Potential bidirectional associations between sensation seeking and substance use at the within-person level are incompletely understood. The present study examined longitudinal trajectories of sensation seeking and substance use and bidirectional longitudinal associations between sensation seeking and substance use in Chinese adolescents during a 3-year period over three time points. A total of 10,138 adolescents (59.8%) male; M_age = 16.77, SD = 0.83 at time (1) were surveyed. Sensation seeking and substance use frequency increased concomitantly over time. At the within-person level, sensation seeking and substance use were reciprocally predictable, and there were no evidence of sex difference in longitudinal associations. This study provides unique data concerning the relationship between sensation seeking and substance use in a sample of Chinese adolescents, and highlights the importance of identifying sensation seeking behaviors to prevent substance use.

Determinants of Treatment Outcome, Follow-Up, and Abstinence Rates Among Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: A Prospective Study

Background The treatment of alcohol use problems needs to have a multidimensional approach for early recovery and better outcome. Objective The study aimed to study the socio-demographic, clinical, and psychological factors associated with the three-month clinical outcomes among patients with alcohol use disorder treated in a tertiary care general hospital psychiatric unit in southern India. Methods This is a prospective three-month follow-up study. Patients fulfilling the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 criteria for alcohol use disorder were selected for the study. The baseline severity of alcohol use was assessed by the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, alcohol craving by Alcohol Craving Questionnaire (ACQ), impulsivity by Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, anxiety and depression by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and personality traits by Personality inventory for DSM-5. Craving was assessed at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-discharge.  Results A total of 110 patients participated in the study. After 3 months of follow-up, 75.5% of the patients remained abstinent throughout the follow-up period. The sample was divided into two groups based on the abstinent status at 12 weeks. Both the abstinent and relapsed users were compared based on socio-demographic, marital, family, illness-related, alcohol-usage, and psychological characteristics, the baseline and follow-up craving indices. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups based on socio-demographic characteristics. Compared to the relapsed group, the abstinent individuals displayed increased adherence to follow-up visits and attended more frequent individual therapy sessions, however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the number of group therapy sessions attended. Also, the abstinent group demonstrated lower subjective craving at both the baseline and during follow-up. The relapsed users had reported a significantly greater proportion of history of suicide in the family. Further correlational analyses were done to find the direction of associations between psychological characteristics and alcohol-usage characteristics. High attentional impulsivity and motor impulsivity were associated with early age of first use. High attentional impulsivity, motor impulsivity and impulsive planning were associated with early age of dependence. Early age of dependence was associated with increased levels of antagonism and psychoticism. Younger onset of alcohol use was associated with increased levels of craving at baseline. The baseline alcohol use severity and the baseline craving towards alcohol were positively correlated with follow-up craving indices as per ACQ and craving index (CI) scales. Conclusion The patients who were abstinent displayed reduced subjective craving towards alcohol at baseline and were more adherent in attending individual and group therapy sessions. Among the relapsed users, most relapsed before four weeks and had a family history of alcohol dependence, family history of psychosis, and suicide, which is indicative of high genetic loading of substance abuse leading to early initiation and early onset of alcohol dependence. The effects of genetic loading could be possibly mediated by traits of high impulsivity, psychoticism, and antagonism.

Longitudinal Associations between Sensation Seeking and Its Components and Alcohol Use in Young SWISS Men-Are There Bidirectional Associations?

The association between alcohol use and sensation seeking is well known. Less is known about whether longitudinal changes in alcohol use are associated with changes in sensation seeking and in which direction influence might flow. 5125 men aged 20.0 years old at baseline and 25.4 years old at follow-up responded to the Brief Sensation Seeking Questionnaire, which measures four subscales of experience seeking, boredom susceptibility, thrill- and adventure-seeking, and disinhibition. Alcohol use was measured using volume (drinks per week) and binge drinking (about 60 g or more per occasion). Associations were calculated using cross-lagged panel models and two-wave latent change score models. Correlations between the latent change scores for alcohol use and the sensation-seeking subscales were all positive, being largest for disinhibition (r > 0.3) and much smaller (r ~ 0.1) for the others. Disinhibition was the dominant effect over the entire sensation-seeking scale. Cross-lagged paths were (except for thrill- and adventure-seeking) bidirectional and mostly higher from alcohol use to sensation seeking (e.g., path_{volume-disinhibition} = 0.136, and path_{disinhibition-volume} = 0.072). Again, effects were highest for disinhibition. Given the bidirectional links between sensation seeking and alcohol use, preventive efforts aiming to achieve stable positive changes in alcohol use and personality should target both simultaneously and focus on disinhibition.

Reciprocal relations between body dissatisfaction and excessive exercise in college women

OBJECTIVE

Body dissatisfaction elevates the risk for disordered eating behaviors. Excessive exercise is prevalent among college women and associated with harm. Risk theory posits a bidirectional relationship between risk factors for disordered eating behaviors and the behaviors themselves. This study investigated the longitudinal, reciprocal relationship between body dissatisfaction and excessive exercise.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

College women (n = 302) assessed in August (baseline) and November (follow-up).

RESULTS

Baseline body dissatisfaction significantly predicted increases in excessive exercise endorsement at follow-up, controlling for baseline excessive exercise endorsement and body mass index (BMI). Baseline excessive exercise endorsement predicted increases in body dissatisfaction at follow-up, controlling for baseline body dissatisfaction and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings support the presence of a positive feedback loop between body dissatisfaction and excessive exercise; both predict increases in risk for the other, regardless of weight status. Future research should test whether this process is ongoing and predicts further distress.

Are Changes in Personality Traits and Alcohol Use Associated? A Cohort Study Among Young Swiss Men

Objective: It is well known that certain personality traits are associated with alcohol use. Because less is known about it, we wished to investigate whether changes in alcohol use were longitudinally associated with changes in personality and in which direction the influence or causation might flow. Methods: Data came from the self-reported questionnaire answers of 5,125 young men at two time points during the Cohort study on Substance Use Risk Factors (C-SURF). Their average ages were 20.0 and 25.4 years old at the first and second wave assessments, respectively. Four personality traits were measured: (a) aggression-hostility; (b) sociability; (c) neuroticism-anxiety; and (d) sensation seeking. Alcohol use was measured by volume (drinks per week) and binge drinking (about 60+ grams per occasion). Cross-lagged panel models and two-wave latent change score models were used. Results: Aggression-hostility, sensation seeking, and sociability were significantly and positively cross-sectionally associated with both alcohol use variables. Drinking volume and these three personality traits bidirectionally predicted each other. Binge drinking was bidirectionally associated with sensation-seeking only, whereas aggression-hostility and sociability only predicted binge drinking, but not vice versa. Changes in alcohol use were significantly positively associated with changes in aggression-hostility, sensation seeking, and sociability. Associations reached small Cohen's effect sizes for sociability and sensation seeking, but not for aggression-hostility. Associations with neuroticism-anxiety were mostly not significant. Conclusion: The direction of effects confirmed findings from other studies, and the association between changes in personality and alcohol use support the idea that prevention programs should simultaneously target both.