Original Scientific Articles

Personality dimensions and social variables – predictors of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescence

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Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to examine the contribution of personaltraits and social variables to the prediction of the frequency of cigarette andalcohol use in adolescents.

Methods: Two questionnaires: Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Role of Parentsand Friends questionnaire were used in the pertinent sample of fourth-gradeelementary school students (N = 268), 18 ± 1.76 years of age. The calculatedCronbach’s alpha coefficient indicated a satisfactory internal consistency ofthe applied measuring instruments.

Results: Approximately 70% of adolescents did not smoke cigarettes, and 64%of them did not consume alcohol. Correlation analysis showed statisticallysignificant connection between several variables. The results of hierarchicalregression analysis, with the p < 0.01, showed that predictors explained 26%of total criterion variance (the frequency of cigarette smoking), and 27% oftotal criterion variance (the frequency of alcohol consumption), respectively.Thereat the following variables had statistically significant independentcontribution to cigarette smoking: gender, neurosis, openness to experiences,cigarette smoking - parents and friends’ reaction to cigarettes, while the bestpredictors of alcohol consumption among adolescents were agreeableness,alcohol consumption - friends, and friends’ reaction to alcohol consumption.

Conclusion: The obtained data provided an important insight into the significanceof insufficiently explored relations between social factors and personalitytraits and cigarette and alcohol use among adolescents.

Keywords: adolescents, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, questionnaires

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