Substance use in young adults: Associations with personality and gender Todd B. Kashdan, Charlene J. Vetter, R. Lorraine Collins * Department of Psychology, Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, 1021 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA Abstract We examined relationships among personality (i.e., negative affectivity and conscientiousness), and use of licit and illicit substances in a sample of 421 college-aged social drinkers (52.7% women, 47.3% men). Results indicated significant relationships between personality and substance use as well as gender differences. Negative affectivity was related to greater illicit substance use, but not alcohol use or smoking. Conscientiousness was related to less alcohol use and smoking, which fully mediated relationships between conscientiousness and with less use of marijuana and other illicit substances. For women, conscientiousness was associated with less alcohol and smoking, compared to men. For men, alcohol use and smoking were more likely to lead to marijuana use, compared to women. Our findings support differential pathways from personality to substance use, and gender appears to be an important moderating factor. D 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Personality; Gender; Alcohol; Smoking; Marijuana; Illicit substances 1. Introduction Drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco may increase the risk of progression to exper- imental, occasional, and regular use of illicit substances, such as marijuana and cocaine (Chen & Kandel, 1995; Duncan, Duncan, & Hops, 1998; Wagner & Anthony, 2002). Nonetheless, many adolescents and young adults who experiment with alcohol and smoking do not progress to using illicit substances. We hypothesized that specific dispositional sensitivities would further elucidate pathways to alcohol and smoking, and illicit substance use. 0306-4603/$ – see front matter D 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2004.05.014 * Corresponding author. Tel.: +1-716-887-2523; fax: +1-716-887-2252. E-mail addresses: kashdan@buffalo.edu (T.B. Kashdan), collins@ria.buffalo.edu (R.L. Collins). Addictive Behaviors 30 (2005) 259 – 269