Personality characteristics and alcohol consumption: longitudinal analyses in men and women followed from ages 13 to 32.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between personality characteristics and alcohol consumption. Using a general population of young and generally healthy men and women, the focus was not on alcoholism but on the full scope of alcohol consumption, including abstinence and moderate levels of consumption. Modification of the relation between personality and alcohol consumption by gender, age and type of beverage was investigated.


METHODS
The population consisted of 483 (259 female) subjects from the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study; they were aged 13 to 32 years over the 20-year course of the study, during which span measurements were taken between two and seven times. The longitudinal relation between five subscales of the Dutch Personality Inventory (DPI) and alcohol consumption were assessed with generalized estimating equations.


RESULTS
Low prevalence of heavy alcohol consumption was found in this population. Abstinence from alcohol was more common among subjects who scored higher on Social Inadequacy, Rigidity and Self-sufficiency subscales. The amount of alcohol consumed was higher in drinkers who scored low on Rigidity and Social Inadequacy. Gender, age and type of alcoholic beverage modified some of the found relationships (e.g., adult women who scored high on Dominance were more likely to be the firmer wine drinkers). No significant relationships were found between alcohol consumption and the DPI Inadequacy subscale.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol consumption was associated with lower scores on Social Inadequacy, Rigidity and Self-sufficiency.
Koppes
L L
LL
Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Twisk
J W
JW
Snel
J
J
De Vente
W
W
Kemper
H C
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012649:Self Concept; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors