Personality dimensions and substance use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities.
A quick personality screener spots adults with intellectual disability who are headed for alcohol or drug trouble.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team gave the 23-item SURPS personality survey to adults with mild or borderline intellectual disability.
They also asked about alcohol and drug use.
The goal was to see which personality traits flag the highest risk for substance problems in this group.
What they found
People who scored low on anxiety sensitivity, but high on negative thinking, impulsivity, or sensation seeking, drank more heavily.
The same high-risk traits, especially negative thinking and sensation seeking, also linked to heavier drug use.
Mixed results: some traits protected, others increased risk.
How this fits with other research
Rojahn et al. (2012) already showed the Brief Symptom Inventory works well for mood screens in adults with ID; P et al. now extend that idea to a personality screener for substance risk.
Coe et al. (1997) found half of adults with learning disabilities have personality abnormalities, but used a long clinician interview; SURPS gives a quicker self-report option.
Jones et al. (2010) built scales for sexual-risk motives in drug users without ID; P et al. shift the focus back to personality traits inside the ID population.
Why it matters
You now have a five-minute tool that predicts which clients with ID are most likely to escalate alcohol or drug use.
Add SURPS to your intake packet. If a client scores high on negative thinking or sensation seeking, start substance-use education early and plan tighter supervision.
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Join Free →Hand the SURPS to your next adult client with ID and note any high negative-thinking or sensation-seeking scores for the team risk review.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the role of the personality dimensions anxiety sensitivity, negative thinking, impulsivity and sensation seeking (as assessed by the revised version of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale; SURPS) in substance use in individuals with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID). METHOD: We tested the relationship between level of ID and SURPS personality dimensions and the relationship between SURPS personality dimensions and severity of alcohol and drug use. Participants were 118 persons (mean age 20.5 years) with a mean IQ of 71.1 admitted to care facilities for persons with MBID and severe behavioral problems. RESULTS: We found no significant relationship between level of ID and the four personality dimensions. In addition, findings showed that individuals with lower levels of anxiety sensitivity, higher levels of negative thinking, impulsivity and sensation seeking showed more severe alcohol use. Individuals with higher levels of negative thinking and sensation seeking had more severe drug use. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The SURPS personality dimensions identify persons at increased risk for substance use disorders and might be useful in developing selective substance use interventions for individuals with MBID.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2017 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2016.10.003