Predisposing personality traits and socio-familial factors of tendency toward substance use among soldiers

• Published in: Journal of substance use 2017-05, Vol.22 (3), p.310-316
• Main Authors: Darharaj, Mohammad, Habibi, Mojtaba, Kelly, Adrian B., Edalatmehr, Zahra, Kazemitabar, Maryam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: familial factors; Personality traits; social factors; soldiers; substance use
• ISSN: 1465-9891; 1475-9942
• DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2016.1195896

Military forces are among vulnerable groups to high-risk behaviors, especially substance use. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the role of personality traits and socio-familial factors in the prediction of risk of substance use among soldiers. A total of 309 soldiers doing military service in Tehran, Iran, were selected using convenience sampling, and completed measures included risk of substance use, personality traits, and social and familial risk/protective factors. Current results showed significant relationships between personality traits and socio-familial factors with tendency toward substance use. Moreover, linear regression analyses indicated that personality traits (i.e., conscientiousness and agreeableness), social factors (i.e., friends' substance use and social disorganization), and familial factors (i.e., parents' positive attitude toward substance use) were significantly associated with tendency toward smoking, drug use, and alcohol use in soldiers. Multimodal interventions targeting individual, familial, and social vulnerabilities may help reduce adjustment problems among Iranian soldiers.