The impact of personality and religion on altitude towards substance use among 13-15 year olds

A sample of 11 173 13-15 year old secondary school pupils completed a scale of attitude towards substance use alongside the short form of the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, measures of personal religiosity and an index of denominational identity. The data demonstrate that a negative attitude toward substance use is associated with tendermindedness, introversion, stability and social conformity. Personal religiosity and membership of Protestant sects are also positively. correlated with rejection of substance use, even after controlling for individual differences in personality. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.