Personality Predicts Substance Use Expression Online
Researchers at Kent State University analyzed several hundred million public social-media posts from 2019–2021 to examine Big Five personality associations with substance-use (SU) discourse. They found extraversion (OR 3.22) and agreeableness (OR 4.04) strongly predicted SU posts, while neuroticism was inversely associated (OR 0.29) and declined at pandemic onset (Cohen d = −0.13). Findings suggest SU discourse is socially driven, informing surveillance and interventions.
Key Points
- 1Identify extraversion and agreeableness strongly predict substance-use posts (OR 3.22 and 4.04).
- 2Reveal neuroticism unexpectedly protects against SU online (OR 0.29), countering self-medication theory.
- 3Suggest SU discourse is social-affiliative, implying surveillance and interventions should target social contexts.
Scoring Rationale
Strong peer-reviewed finding from hundreds of millions of posts; limited by observational design and platform-specific expression.
Sources
Public references used for this report.
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