WITHDRAWN: Personality Vulnerability to Second-Hand Harms from Alcohol

Introduction: University students commonly report alcohol use and related harms; however, harms associated with alcohol often extend to others beyond the drinker. Research suggests more than 70% of students have experienced harm from other students’ drinking. The current study builds on the literature documenting second-hand harms in two key ways. First, it considers whether second-hand harms cluster into latent factors that reflect distinct but related types of harms. Second, there is a paucity of research examining factors that increase students’ vulnerability to second-hand harms. Thus, the current study examined personality dimensions as predictors of second-hand harm exposure and investigated the possible mediating role of students’ own alcohol use.

Methods: The sample included 1537 first year Canadian undergraduate students (68% female). Independent variables included four personality dimensions (hopelessness, anxiety sensitivity, sensation seeking and impulsivity) as measured by the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS). Control variables included age, sex, living on-campus and international student status. Problematic alcohol use was measured by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) and was included as a mediator. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine latent factors of second-hand harms, which were then included in the path model as dependent variables. All models were run using Mplus 7.11.

Results: The 11 types of harms examined clustered into 3 distinct but related factors, which were termed “strains” (i.e., interruption of sleep or study), “threats” (i.e., harassment or assault), and interpersonal harms (i.e., arguments with peers). Sixty-eight percent reported strains, 44% reported threats, and 64% reported interpersonal harms. Thirty-five percent reported experiencing all three types of harms in the last term. Path analysis revealed that all four of the personality dimensions were associated with greater reporting of second-hand harms. Specifically, hopelessness was directly associated with threats and interpersonal harms and anxiety sensitivity was directly associated with all three types of harm. Sensation seeking and impulsivity were both indirectly associated with all three types of harm through alcohol use. Impulsivity was also directly related to threats.

Conclusions: The prevalence of second-hand harms from alcohol for university students is high. These harms tend to cluster into 3 distinct types of second-hand harms, which may have different predictors and be associated with different consequences. Personality may predispose students to experience second-hand harms, albeit perhaps through difference mechanisms. Implications for future research, policy development and targets for future research are discussed.