The relationship of sensation-seeking to alcohol use and risk-taking behaviour was studied in a sample of college women. Two groups of ten, identified on the basis of extreme high and low scores on the sensation-seeking trait, were selected from a larger pool of participants to complete a self-report assessment of willingness to engage in risky behaviour while under the influence of alcohol and to perform a series of driving simulation tasks, both while sober and while intoxicated at the legal limit for driving. It was hypothesised that both groups would be more likely to take risks when intoxicated than when sober, and that high sensation-seekers would take greater risks than low sensation-seekers. Compared to low sensation-seekers, high sensation-seekers reported significantly greater levels of alcohol use and were less likely to perceive danger associated with risky behaviours engaged in while under the influence of alcohol. Self-reported appraisal of willingness to take risks in general was unaffected by the actual sobriety condition of respondents. Risk-taking behaviour measured in a driving simulation task was affected by state of intoxication. However, pronounced effects were only found for low sensation-seekers. The personality trait of sensation-seeking appears to play an important mediating role in alcohol use and associated risk-taking behaviour in young women. (A)
Abstract