Cloninger's Temperament and Character Dimensions of Personality and Binge Drinking Among College Students. (23rd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gierski, Fabien; Benzerouk, Farid; De Wever, Elodie; Duka, Theodora; Kaladjian, Arthur; Quaglino, Véronique; Naassila, Mickaël
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 41:Number 11(2017)
• Page Start: 1970
• Page End: 1979
• Publication Date: 2017-10-23
• Subjects: Personality -- Temperament and Character Inventory -- Alcohol Consumption -- Binge Drinking -- Cluster Analysis; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.13497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Temperament and character dimensions of personality remain largely unexplored in young adults exhibiting binge drinking (BD) patterns. Moreover, the available studies do not consider gender differences and dismiss possible personality heterogeneity among binge drinkers. In this study, we aimed to compare temperament and character dimensions between young binge drinkers and age‐ and sex‐matched social drinkers. We further applied cluster analysis to investigate the potential heterogeneity of personality patterns among BD college students. Methods: This study included 200 university students of 18 to 24 years of age, who were recruited via an invitation to take an alcohol use survey. These participants included 100 individuals (50 females and 50 males) with a BD pattern, and 100 participants (50 females and 50 males) with a social drinking (SD) pattern. These subjects were evaluated with regard to their use of alcohol and other substances, impulsiveness, sensation seeking, mood, and Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory. Results: Between‐group comparisons revealed that both male and female binge drinkers were characterized by high levels of novelty seeking, and low levels of persistence and self‐directedness. However, cluster analyses within the binge drinker group revealed 2 distinct groups that differed between males and females. These groups shared similarities with Cloninger's type I (high harm‐avoidance) and II (high novelty‐seeking) alcoholism typology. Conclusions: The present findings support the subdivision of binge drinkers according to gender and personality dimensions. Male and female binge drinkers should not be considered a unitary group, but rather a population of individuals that encompasses at least 2 distinct personality patterns. These findings have major implications for prevention and treatment approaches. Abstract : Clustering analysis of a sample college of men and women binge drinkers evidenced 2 patterns of personality which shared similarities with Cloninger's type I (high harm avoidance and low novelty seeking) and type II (high novelty seeking and low harm avoidance). Type II personality features were found among both genders while type I was only found among women binge drinkers.