Personality profile of binge drinking in university students is modulated by sex. A study using the Alternative Five Factor Model

Background: The prevalence of binge drinking (BD), found especially among young people, is increasing worldwide and has become an important social and health concern. We studied, for the first time, the personality profile, using the Alternative Five Factor Model, among university students with BD and healthy controls, taking into account the possible influence of sex. Methods: 70 participants with BD (30 men) and 70 healthy controls (30 men) were included, selected to control for characteristics that are known to be related to BD (physical and mental disorders, consumption of other drugs, circadian rhythms), completed the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ). Results: The scores on Neuroticism-Anxiety and Impulsive Sensation-Seeking were higher in the BD group compared to the controls (p < 0.001 in both cases). The higher scores in the BD group in Neuroticism-Anxiety are due to higher scores in the women's group (p = 0.014), while those in Impulsive Sensation-Seeking are due to higher scores in the men's group (p = 0.009), both in the Impulsivity and in the Sensation-Seeking subscales (p < 0.045). Conclusions: Sex could be a factor that modulates the endophenotype of drug dependence (impulsive and anxious personality) and the prevention and/or treatment programs for BD should include not only the management of the personality risk factors but also different tailored approaches according to sex. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.