Reward Seeking as a Predictor of Drug Use in Youth: Effect of Gender and Social Environment

Drug use was investigated in 3476 college and university students. The participants also filled out a set of personality questionnaires along with questions about relationships with peers, parents, and boy/girlfriend. Behavioral Activation was the best personality predictor of drug use. Peer and parent support decreased the strength of association between Behavioral Activation and drug use in females, but not in males. On the other hand, drug use in near social environment significantly increased the strength of association between Behavioral Activation and drug use in males, but not in females. This evidence suggests that in predisposed to drug use youth social environment may act both as a protector and a risk factor. The former influence is stronger in females, the latter – in males.