Five-Factor Model personality profiles of drug users.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Personality traits are considered risk factors for drug use, and,
in turn, the psychoactive substances impact individuals' traits. Furthermore, there
is increasing interest in developing treatment approaches that match an individual's
personality profile. To advance our knowledge of the role of individual differences
in drug use, the present study compares the personality profile of tobacco, marijuana,
cocaine, and heroin users and non-users using the wide spectrum Five-Factor Model
(FFM) of personality in a diverse community sample.<h4>Method</h4>Participants (N
= 1,102; mean age = 57) were part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program
in Baltimore, MD, USA. The sample was drawn from a community with a wide range of
socio-economic conditions. Personality traits were assessed with the Revised NEO Personality
Inventory (NEO-PI-R), and psychoactive substance use was assessed with systematic
interview.<h4>Results</h4>Compared to never smokers, current cigarette smokers score
lower on Conscientiousness and higher on Neuroticism. Similar, but more extreme, is
the profile of cocaine/heroin users, which score very high on Neuroticism, especially
Vulnerability, and very low on Conscientiousness, particularly Competence, Achievement-Striving,
and Deliberation. By contrast, marijuana users score high on Openness to Experience,
average on Neuroticism, but low on Agreeableness and Conscientiousness.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In
addition to confirming high levels of negative affect and impulsive traits, this study
highlights the links between drug use and low Conscientiousness. These links provide
insight into the etiology of drug use and have implications for public health interventions.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansSubstance-Related Disorders
Cocaine-Related Disorders
Marijuana Abuse
Heroin Dependence
Prevalence
Cross-Sectional Studies
Sample Size
Smoking
Personality
Models, Psychological
Middle Aged
Baltimore
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22751Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1186/1471-244x-8-22Publication Info
Terracciano, Antonio; Löckenhoff, Corinna E; Crum, Rosa M; Bienvenu, O Joseph; & Costa,
Paul T (2008). Five-Factor Model personality profiles of drug users. BMC psychiatry, 8(1). pp. 22. 10.1186/1471-244x-8-22. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22751.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Paul T. Costa Jr.
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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