Abstract
There is a high overlap between substance misuse and mental health disorders in adolescents. Certain personality traits (i.e.,
sensation seeking, impulsivity, hopelessness, and anxiety sensitivity) may be related to increased risk for mental health
symptoms and/or substance misuse. The current study examined the relationships between personality and both substance use
problems and externalizing and internalizing mental health symptoms in two clinical samples of adolescents. One sample consisted
of adolescents receiving treatment for a primary mental health disorder, while the other sample included adolescents receiving
treatment for a primary substance use disorder. A total of 116 participants (58 for each sample) completed the Substance Use
Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), to examine personality factors, the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview- Self-Report, to examine
mental health disorder symptoms, and the Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire, to examine substance use problems. After
controlling for age, gender, and sample, sensation seeking and impulsivity were positively related to substance use problems,
impulsivity was positively related to symptoms of externalizing disorders, and anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness were positively
related to symptoms of internalizing disorders. These findings support the utility of the SURPS in predicting theoretically
relevant symptoms in clinical samples of adolescents. Moreover, they extend previous research that has focused on using the
SURPS as a predictor of substance misuse to its utility in also predicting mental health disorder symptoms. These findings
have implications for improving mental health and addictions treatment services for adolescents.
sensation seeking, impulsivity, hopelessness, and anxiety sensitivity) may be related to increased risk for mental health
symptoms and/or substance misuse. The current study examined the relationships between personality and both substance use
problems and externalizing and internalizing mental health symptoms in two clinical samples of adolescents. One sample consisted
of adolescents receiving treatment for a primary mental health disorder, while the other sample included adolescents receiving
treatment for a primary substance use disorder. A total of 116 participants (58 for each sample) completed the Substance Use
Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), to examine personality factors, the Brief Child and Family Phone Interview- Self-Report, to examine
mental health disorder symptoms, and the Personal Experience Screening Questionnaire, to examine substance use problems. After
controlling for age, gender, and sample, sensation seeking and impulsivity were positively related to substance use problems,
impulsivity was positively related to symptoms of externalizing disorders, and anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness were positively
related to symptoms of internalizing disorders. These findings support the utility of the SURPS in predicting theoretically
relevant symptoms in clinical samples of adolescents. Moreover, they extend previous research that has focused on using the
SURPS as a predictor of substance misuse to its utility in also predicting mental health disorder symptoms. These findings
have implications for improving mental health and addictions treatment services for adolescents.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-12
- DOI 10.1007/s11469-012-9395-0
- Authors
- Susan R. Battista, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
- Alissa Pencer, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
- Melissa McGonnell, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
- Heather Durdle, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
- Sherry H. Stewart, Department of Psychology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 4J1
- Journal International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Online ISSN 1557-1882
- Print ISSN 1557-1874