A study examining individuals with alcohol use disorder who participate in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) self-help groups has revealed intriguing gender differences in personality traits and alcohol consumption. The research found that women with higher levels of both positive and negative urgency, as well as lower levels of sensation seeking, tended to consume more alcohol. In men, those with higher levels of positive urgency were more likely to drink more. This study was published in the journal Alcohol.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition marked by an inability to control or stop drinking despite adverse effects on health, relationships, and daily functioning. It includes a spectrum of problematic drinking behaviors, from alcohol abuse to alcohol dependence.
Individuals with alcohol use disorder often experience intense cravings for alcohol and struggle to reduce or cease their drinking, even when aware of the negative consequences. Over time, they may develop tolerance, requiring more alcohol to achieve the same effects, and withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Alcohol use disorder can lead to severe health issues, including liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and mental health conditions.
Treatment for alcohol use disorder typically involves a combination of counseling, medication, and support groups to help individuals achieve and maintain sobriety. Alcoholics Anonymous, founded in 1935, is a well-known international fellowship offering a structured 12-step program through local meetings where members share their experiences and support each other in recovery.
Recovery from alcohol use disorder is challenging, and many individuals relapse after beginning the recovery process. Researchers are keen to identify factors that influence whether a person with alcohol use disorder will maintain sobriety or revert to problematic drinking.
Study author Séverine Lannoy and her colleagues aimed to explore the relationship between personality traits and recent alcohol use in individuals with severe alcohol use disorder attending AA self-help groups. They investigated how specific personality traits might predict whether individuals would adhere to sobriety or continue drinking.
The study focused on two personality models: the Big Five (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism) and the UPPS-P, which includes five impulsivity-related traits: negative urgency, positive urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking.
Negative urgency refers to the tendency to act impulsively in response to intense negative emotions, while positive urgency is the tendency to act impulsively during extreme positive emotions. Lack of premeditation is acting without considering consequences, lack of perseverance is the inability to stay focused on a task until completion, and sensation seeking is the pursuit of novel and thrilling experiences.
The study analyzed data from the Genes, Addiction, and Personality study, which investigated genetic and environmental influences on severe alcohol use disorder. The analysis included 2,966 individuals with severe alcohol use disorder, with an average age of 47 years (ranging from 18 to 79 years), 66% of whom were female.
Participants completed assessments on alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – Consumption) and personality (Big Five Inventory and UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale). Researchers also collected data on participants’ alcohol use severity, family history of alcohol use, depression, and antisocial behaviors.
Results showed that women who drank more during recovery had higher levels of positive and negative urgency, fewer antisocial behaviors, and lower sensation seeking. Men who drank more had more severe alcohol use disorder symptoms, fewer antisocial behaviors, and higher levels of positive urgency. Both men and women who drank more tended to be younger and less educated, with single men more likely to drink than those in relationships.
“These findings highlight sex-specific correlates of drinking in individuals with AUD [alcohol use disorder] who engaged in self-help groups. These findings may help to improve treatment options, as personality encompasses modifiable traits that can be targeted in psychological interventions,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between personality traits and drinking alcohol among individuals with severe alcohol use disorder.However, it is important to note that the study participants were exclusively individuals with a history of participation in AA self-help groups. The results might differ for those who never attend such groups.
The study, “Personality correlates of past-year alcohol use in individuals with severe alcohol use disorder and a lifetime history of involvement in alcoholics anonymous,” was authored by Séverine Lannoy, Dace S. Svikis, Mallory Stephenson, Kathryn Polak, Kenneth S. Kendler, and Alexis C. Edwards.
