Widespread harmful drinking is a common, deleterious behavior found throughout universities in the United States.  Colleges continue to grapple with this specific problem through intervention development and research.  While most people hold opinions as to why college students choose to drink, the literature concerning the behavior’s underlying factors is relatively small, but continually growing.  This study aimed to determine relationships between first-year students’ stress and their individual personality traits, and how these variables may predict different forms of alcohol use. 

The study’s sample was comprised of 303 first year college students who were recently enrolled at a large, private undergraduate institution in the Southeast (N=303, 70% female, avg. age = 18.58).  Participants completed surveys that detailed their demographics, alcohol use, behavior, and personality traits.  Alcohol use was measured using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) as well as the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).  Stress levels were reported using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and personality traits were characterized using the Big Five Inventory (BFI).  For reference, the specific five traits measured are openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.  After survey results were compiled, the data was analyzed using multiple regression analysis and partial correlation testing. 

Results of the study found no differences of alcohol use scores between sexes (p = 0.06), while significant positive correlations were found for alcohol use and PSS scores, in addition to alcohol use and neuroticism (p<0.05 for each).   A negative correlation was found for alcohol use and agreeableness (p= 0.03).  Upon further investigation of the finding involving neuroticism, it was found that the depression facet of the neuroticism trait set was the moderating factor for the significant relationship in the data. 

Takeaway: newly enrolled college students who score highly on the depression facet of the neuroticism variable in the Big Five Inventory may be more likely to use alcohol in harmful or consequential manners.  Stress levels may also further complicate this relationship.  Interventions treating students for harmful alcohol use may benefit from an emphasis on treating depression in students.   

Martin KP, Benca-Bachman CE, Palmer RHC. Risk for alcohol use/misuse among entering college students: The role of personality and stress. Addictive Behaviors Reports. 2021;13:100330. doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100330