Personality Traits and Alcohol Use and Misuse

It is well documented that disinhibition, positive emotionality and negative emotionality traits are related to different drinking patterns. The role of personality in alcohol-related behaviors is better understood when other relevant psychological variables, such as drinking motives, are considered. Thus, positive emotionality and unconscientious disinhibition would relate to drinking because “it is fun” (i.e., enhancement motives) which, in turn, are associated with higher alcohol use and negative consequences. Negative emotionality would relate to drinking “to avoid my problems” (i.e., coping motives) which would, in turn, be related to more alcohol-related problems. Disinhibition would be related to drinking outcomes as part of a more general pattern of deviant behavior. These findings on personality and alcohol use and misuse have been instrumental towards designing effective personality-targeted interventions.