Roles of gender, social anxiety and extraversion in drinking patterns among Nigerian students. (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eze, John E.; Uzuegbu, Chibueze Fortune; Chukwuorji, JohnBosco Chika
• Is Part Of: Drugs. Volume 28:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 200
• Page End: 209
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Alcohol use -- drinking patterns -- extraversion -- gender -- social anxiety; Health education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Polytoxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.291705
• DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2020.1810207
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0968-7637

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Effective interventions to curb the growing alcohol use problem in African countries require an understanding of critical factors associated with drinking patterns. Previous studies have examined the contributions of gender, social anxiety and extraversion in alcohol use, but little research exists on the operationalization of drinking patterns as high-risk situations for alcohol use, and the contributions of these factors. This study is aimed at filling this gap. Methods: Participants were 276 students (males 52.2%) of a university in south-eastern Nigeria. They completed validated measures of social anxiety, extraversion and drinking patterns (financial, physiological, interpersonal, marital and emotional). Results: Hierarchical multiple linear regression results showed that male students were more likely than female students to drink alcohol in situations related to financial, interpersonal, and emotional issues, but both genders were similarly involved in alcohol use in physiological and marital relationship issues. Social anxiety and extraversion did not have significant associations with drinking patterns. Being married or in romantic relationship was associated with higher drinking frequency. Conclusion: Attention should be given to the use of alcohol in the context of romantic relationships for male and female students.