A longitudinal study of personality traits and substance use among adolescents

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25590183
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: TANAKA Mami 千葉大学, 社会精神保健教育研究センター, 特任助教 (90600198)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: パーソナリティ / 喫煙行動・飲酒行動 / 縦断研究 / 青少年 / 双生児法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors of substance use (specifically, smoking and drinking) among adolescents. Results of one study revealed that adolescent substance use is associated not only with their own personality traits but also with maternal personality traits, substance use, and depression. Further, results of a twin study showed that the relationships among personality traits, depression, and substance use could contribute to additive genetic and non-shared environmental influences. These findings imply that both the parent―child relationship and environmental factors (e.g. family and school life), as well as children's personality traits, are equally important to the examination of, early detection of, and intervention in regard to substance use among adolescents.

Free Research Field

発達心理学