The Interplay of Personality and Motivation Among University Students' Alcohol Consumption in Lebanon: A Quantitative Study

Alcohol is the second most used psychoactive substance in the world. Although there have been many studies conducted regarding alcohol consumption in North America and Europe, very few studies have examined such aspects of alcohol consumption in the Middle East, namely Lebanon. This gap is notable as alcohol consumptions occurs but discussion of it is culturally taboo. Informed by social learning theory and the motivational model of drinking, this quasiexperimental study attempted to examine the factors related to alcohol consumption among Lebanon university students and their reasons for drinking. Specifically, this study examined the relationship between the 5 factors of personality and alcohol consumption among Lebanese university students as well as the relationship between motivational factors and alcohol consumption among Lebanese university students. A single-stage sampling procedure of a nonrandom convenience sample of 181 university students at the Lebanese American University (LAU) was conducted. Statistical tests included a 2-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation. Scores on the personality trait of Agreeableness was found to have a weak correlation with the amount of alcohol consumption but not the frequency. Enhancement motives as well as anxiety and depression coping motives were positively correlated with alcohol consumption. Significant differences between females and males were found on personality traits. Furthermore, Agreeableness was the only significant predictor of alcohol consumption from personality traits. The significance of the findings of this study could be its use in helping to change the current understanding of the Lebanese educators and mental health professionals about how personality and motivation influence drinking.