Abstract
Various studies found personality to be related to substance use, but little attention is paid to the role of personality
risk dimensions with regard to an early onset of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Therefore, the current study used a
variable-centered approach to examine whether anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, sensation seeking, and impulsivity predict
the onset of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use in early adolescence. Additionally, we adopted a person-centered approach
to examine whether different personality subgroups could be identified, and whether these subgroups would be predictive of
substance use. For that purpose, longitudinal data of a broader effectiveness study were used from 758 early adolescents (53 %
female) aged 11–14 years. Structural equation models showed that hopelessness and sensation seeking were predictive of having
ever used alcohol and tobacco. Also, sensation seeking was predictive of marijuana use. Latent profile analyses on the first
wave data revealed a three-profile solution for boys (i.e., resilients, internalizers, and externalizers) and a two-profile
solution for girls (i.e., resilients and internalizers). In contrast to our expectation, further analyses revealed no significant
differences in substance use between the different subprofiles for both boys and girls. The separate personality dimensions
thus seem more relevant in predicting the onset of substance use compared to the personality profiles. However, the personality
profiles might be informative in explaining more excessive substance use behaviors.
risk dimensions with regard to an early onset of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Therefore, the current study used a
variable-centered approach to examine whether anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, sensation seeking, and impulsivity predict
the onset of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use in early adolescence. Additionally, we adopted a person-centered approach
to examine whether different personality subgroups could be identified, and whether these subgroups would be predictive of
substance use. For that purpose, longitudinal data of a broader effectiveness study were used from 758 early adolescents (53 %
female) aged 11–14 years. Structural equation models showed that hopelessness and sensation seeking were predictive of having
ever used alcohol and tobacco. Also, sensation seeking was predictive of marijuana use. Latent profile analyses on the first
wave data revealed a three-profile solution for boys (i.e., resilients, internalizers, and externalizers) and a two-profile
solution for girls (i.e., resilients and internalizers). In contrast to our expectation, further analyses revealed no significant
differences in substance use between the different subprofiles for both boys and girls. The separate personality dimensions
thus seem more relevant in predicting the onset of substance use compared to the personality profiles. However, the personality
profiles might be informative in explaining more excessive substance use behaviors.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Empirical Research
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s10964-012-9775-6
- Authors
- Monique Malmberg, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Marloes Kleinjan, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Ad A. Vermulst, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Geertjan Overbeek, Developmental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Karin Monshouwer, Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Jeroen Lammers, Trimbos Institute (Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction), Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Rutger C. M. E. Engels, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Journal Journal of Youth and Adolescence
- Online ISSN 1573-6601
- Print ISSN 0047-2891