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

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