(PS6-10) Examining Personality Profiles of At-risk Adolescents Based on Substance Use History

Research demonstrates that adults and adolescents who use substances have higher levels of antisocial and borderline personality traits, including stimulus-seeking and negative affect. Adults who use more than one substance (i.e., polysubstance users) are twice as likely to meet criteria for Antisocial or Borderline Personality Disorder than adults who use one substance. Preliminary evidence suggests that personality features vary further based on substance use history. Specifically, adults who use heroin or cocaine display higher levels of both antisocial traits and internalizing features than adults who use other substances. This study aims to extend these findings to an at-risk sample of adolescents by examining differences in personality features based on adolescents’ substance use history.

65 male adolescents (M age=16.78; 62% White) in a military-style residential program completed the Personality Assessment Inventory for Adolescents (PAI-A; Morey, 2007) and the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS; CDC, 2015). A series of one-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine differences in personality features on the PAI-A based on substance use history. Data collection is ongoing and findings from a larger sample will be available at the time of the conference.

A one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in scores on the Antisocial Features scale (ANT; F(3, 64) = 7.64, p < .001). Tukey’s HSD Test for multiple comparisons found that ANT scores were significantly higher for polysubstance users than alcohol users (p = .01, 95% C.I. = 1.61, 16.05) and non-users (p < .001, 95% C.I. = 4.14, 19.02).  Within the ANT scale, there were significant differences between groups on the Antisocial Attitude subscale (ANT-A; F(3, 64) = 9.05, p < .001) and Stimulus Seeking subscale (ANT-S; F(3, 64) = 5.38, p = .002). ANT-A scores were significantly higher for polysubstance users than alcohol users (p = .004, 95% C.I. = 2.44, 16.56) and non-users (p < .001, 95% C.I. = 5.23, 19.77). ANT-S scores were significantly higher for polysubstance users than non-users (p = .007, 95% C.I. = 2.22, 17.94). Finally, there was a statistically significant difference in scores on the PAI-A subscale that assesses affective symptoms of depression (DEP-A=; F(3, 64) = 7.64, p = .029). DEP-A scores were significantly higher for polysubstance users than alcohol users (p = .019, 95% C.I. = 1.29, 19.51). There was not a statistically significant difference in scores on the PAI-A Borderline Features scale (BOR).

Consistent with hypotheses, antisocial features were significantly higher for adolescents who use more than once substance. These adolescents also display more affective symptoms of depression, consistent with prior research on adult polysubstance users. Contrary to hypotheses, there were not significant differences between groups on borderline features. The results of this study extend prior research examining personality differences based on substance use history in adults to a diverse sample of at-risk male adolescents. Consideration of individual factors, such as personality features, can help to tailor substance use treatments to be more effective for adolescents based on substance use history. Clinical implications will be discussed.