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Longitudinal Associations between Sensation Seeking and Its Components and Alcohol Use in Young SWISS Men—Are There Bidirectional Associations?

Author

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  • Gerhard Gmel

    (Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 23A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Research Department, Addiction Switzerland, Avenue Louis-Ruchonnet 14, 1003 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
    Alcohol and Research Unit, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

  • Simon Marmet

    (Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 23A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    School of Social Work, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, 4600 Olten, Switzerland)

  • Nicolas Bertholet

    (Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 23A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Matthias Wicki

    (Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 23A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Institute for Research, Development and Evaluation, Bern University of Teacher Education, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Joseph Studer

    (Addiction Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 23A, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
    Service of Adult Psychiatry North-West, Department of Psychiatry, Lausanne University Hospital, Chemin des Chaux, 1196 Prangins, Switzerland)

Abstract

The association between alcohol use and sensation seeking is well known. Less is known about whether longitudinal changes in alcohol use are associated with changes in sensation seeking and in which direction influence might flow. 5125 men aged 20.0 years old at baseline and 25.4 years old at follow-up responded to the Brief Sensation Seeking Questionnaire, which measures four subscales of experience seeking, boredom susceptibility, thrill- and adventure-seeking, and disinhibition. Alcohol use was measured using volume (drinks per week) and binge drinking (about 60 g or more per occasion). Associations were calculated using cross-lagged panel models and two-wave latent change score models. Correlations between the latent change scores for alcohol use and the sensation-seeking subscales were all positive, being largest for disinhibition (r > 0.3) and much smaller (r ~ 0.1) for the others. Disinhibition was the dominant effect over the entire sensation-seeking scale. Cross-lagged paths were (except for thrill- and adventure-seeking) bidirectional and mostly higher from alcohol use to sensation seeking (e.g., path volume-disinhibition = 0.136, and path disinhibition-volume = 0.072). Again, effects were highest for disinhibition. Given the bidirectional links between sensation seeking and alcohol use, preventive efforts aiming to achieve stable positive changes in alcohol use and personality should target both simultaneously and focus on disinhibition.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerhard Gmel & Simon Marmet & Nicolas Bertholet & Matthias Wicki & Joseph Studer, 2022. "Longitudinal Associations between Sensation Seeking and Its Components and Alcohol Use in Young SWISS Men—Are There Bidirectional Associations?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:19:p:12475-:d:929987
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