NCJ Number
116224
Journal
British Journal of Addiction Volume: 84 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1989) Pages: 181-190
Date Published
1989
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A total of 1,900 adolescents, 14-19 years old, were tested twice, 12 months apart, for alcohol and drug use to determine the relationship between personality traits and drug abuse.
Abstract
One hypothesis tested is that sensation seeking, state and trait anxiety, and depressive mood should positively affect the initiation and continuation of adolescent substance use. Another hypothesis tested is that whereas sensation seeking will be associated with substance use regardless of the specific psychopharmacological properties of a given substance, anxiety and depressive mood will be primarily associated with the use of depressants. The latter hypothesis derives from Zuckerman's conclusion regarding the relationships between sensation seeking and drug use and Khantzian's 'self medication hypothesis.' The study found that sensation seeking affected substance use among adolescents more than state and trait anxiety and depressive mood. Sensation seeking differentiated among abstainers, beginners, and users of all substances. A different pattern of relationship between state-trait anxiety and depressive moods and substance use was found. These personality variables apparently differentiated only among those subjects who used depressants. Previous experimentation with drugs also significantly affected current use. The implications of these findings for interventions among adolescents are discussed. 3 tables, 56 references. (Publisher abstract modified)