Psychological Factors Affecting Alcohol Use after Spinal Cord Injury

This study examines factors influencing alcohol consumption among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). It looks at personality traits and socioeconomic status to see how they relate to different levels of alcohol use. The researchers found that certain personality traits like impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and aggression were linked to heavier drinking. Higher income and education levels were also associated with increased alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that addressing psychological factors and socioeconomic status could be important in developing interventions to prevent or reduce heavy alcohol use among people with SCI.

• 1
  Impulsive sensation seeking, neuroticism/anxiety, and aggression/hostility were associated with increased odds of heavy drinking among individuals with SCI.
• 2
  Higher annual household income and education levels were both associated with heavy alcohol use in this population.
• 3
  Males were more likely to be heavy drinkers than females, while those with more severe injuries were less likely to be heavy drinkers.