Brief Sensation Seeking Scale Research Articles

“You are the company you keep”: A study of peer pressure on driving

Peers play an important role in shaping the behaviours of their counterparts at different stages of life. Studies have shown that peer influence/pressure has a significant role in the traffic environment as well as in many other social settings, especially for risky behaviours. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine age and sex differences in respect of peer pressure and the role of peer pressure on driver behaviour in Türkiye. A total of 405 drivers with a mean age of 23.84 (SD=4.82) years completed an online survey consisting of the Peer Pressure on Risky Driving Scale (PPRDS), the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS) and the Short Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (S-DBQ, measuring aberrant and positive driver behaviour). First, the psychometric structure of the PPRDS, used for the first time in Turkish, was found to support the original structure, addressing direct pressure in the form of risk-encouraging or risk-discouraging and indirect pressure. Indirect pressure was seen to decrease with age for both males and females, whereas risk-discouraging direct pressure increased with age only for males. Sensation-seeking was positively related to aberrant behaviours. Risk-encouraging direct peer pressure and indirect pressure were positively associated with aberrant (risky) driver behaviour, whereas indirect peer pressure was associated with decreased aberrant driving behaviour and increased positive (helpful, polite) driving behaviour. The findings suggested that drivers feel strong peer pressure in traffic, but it varies by age and sex, and this pressure is stronger for young males. These findings have important implications for road safety and intervention studies.

Fear of Crime, Perceived Risk, and Confidence About Dangerous Situations Among University Women in the United States and Poland

The purpose of the study was to compare United States and Polish university women in regard to demographics, victimization experiences, sensation seeking, fear of dangerous situations, perceived likelihood of victimization, and confidence about managing dangerous situations. A total of 520 women completed the online instruments, which consisted of Perceptions of Dangerous Situations Scale (PDSS), Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS), and a demographic questionnaire. Overall, in regard to Fear, Likelihood, and Confidence about dangerous situations, Polish women scored significantly higher in Fear and Likelihood than U. S. women. Differences in Confidence between the two groups were not statistically significant. The two groups differed in the frequency of victimizations in terms of violent crimes, rape, and abusive relationships. The groups also differed in Likelihood scores depending on prior victimization. U. S. women made less of a distinction than Polish women between their emotional (Fear) and their cognitive (Likelihood) appraisals of dangerous situations. Neither group of women scored higher in Fear if they had been previously victimized. The researchers found differences between Polish and U.S. university women in Fear and Likelihood scores, some of which may be related to cultural differences. Sensation seeking did not differ between the two groups. Regardless of country membership, women did not acknowledge rape by a known person to be as likely as rape by a stranger, nor did they acknowledge the greater likelihood of being beaten up by a known person than by a stranger. It is clear that more education is still needed.

Impulsivity, Sensation-Seeking, Emotional Neglect, and Delinquent Behavior among Pakistani E-cigarette Users

In a world where smoke meets innovation, a sizzling trend has taken the stage by storm - E-cigarettes! As these sleek devices spark fascination and controversy alike, the rising wave of vaping and its electrifying impact on society is equally enormous. E-cigarette usage continues to grow in Pakistan and there is a scarcity of research examining the specific psychological factors associated with delinquent behavior among users. Therefore, this study investigates the influence of impulsivity and sensation-seeking on delinquent behavior among Pakistani E-cigarette users, while examining the mediating role of emotional neglect. Using a cross-sectional approach, data were collected from a sample of Pakistani E-cigarette-using adolescents aged 11-19 years old. The research employed questionnaires such as Barrat’s Impulsivity Scale (BIS), Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS), revised Self-reported Delinquency Scale (SRDS), and Emotional Neglect Scale (ENS) to gather quantitative data, respectively. Statistical software (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between sensation seeking and impulsivity and sensation seeking and delinquency. However, with delinquency, impulsivity had an insignificant, positive relationship. Moreover, emotional neglect was found to mediate the relationship between impulsivity and delinquent behavior. However, no mediation was found between sensation seeking and delinquent behavior. In conclusion, the current study provides valuable insights into the predictive role of impulsivity and sensation-seeking in delinquent behavior among Pakistani E-cigarette users. The mediating role of emotional neglect highlights the complex interplay between individual characteristics and environmental factors in the context of E-cigarette use and delinquency.

Seeking courage: how courage is linked with sensation seeking and morality

Introduction: Courageous behaviour could be determined by both genes (talent) and environment (upbringing). The purpose of this study is to describe the elationship between participants levels of declarative courage and the intensity of the sensation-seeking trait. For the purposes of the study, courage was defined as the willingness to take action in the face of risk (Woodard, 2007). Method: The study was conducted using a questionnaire method, the level of selected trait variables was measured using the Woodard Pury Courage Scale-23 (WPCS-23), Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS), Polish adaptation of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ-PL). The WPCS-23 and BSSS were translated into Polish for the purposes of the study in a backtranslation the authors of the original versions. Results: The general indicator of sensation seeking has been shown to be positively related to courage; moreover, experience seeking and adventure and excitement seeking have been shown related to courage stronger than susceptibility to boredom, disengagement. Experience-seeking, adventure-seeking and excitement-seeking are predictors of respondents levels of courage. The structure of morality has little relation to the courage of participants. No moral code is a predictor for courage. Conclusions: The study was conducted to explore the relation between sensation seeking and different categories of morality with courage and the nature of human behaviour in social situations. We were interested in the structure of sensationseeking among the respondents and what traits/values guide them when making decisions. This study has proven that sensation seeking is a predictor of courage. The participants morality has shown little relationship to courage. In further research, we suggest focusing on the social aspectsof courage versus sensation seeking and morality with a larger and representative sample.

The Effect of Driving Style on Responses to Unexpected Vehicle Cyberattacks

Vehicle cybersecurity is a serious concern, as modern vehicles are vulnerable to cyberattacks. How drivers respond to situations induced by vehicle cyberattacks is safety critical. This paper sought to understand the effect of human drivers’ risky driving style on response behavior to unexpected vehicle cyberattacks. A driving simulator study was conducted wherein 32 participants experienced a series of simulated drives in which unexpected events caused by vehicle cyberattacks were presented. Participants’ response behavior was assessed by their change in velocity after the cybersecurity events occurred, their post-event acceleration, as well as time to first reaction. Risky driving style was portrayed by scores on the Driver Behavior Questionnaire (DBQ) and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS). Half of the participants also received training regarding vehicle cybersecurity before the experiment. Results suggest that when encountering certain cyberattack-induced unexpected events, whether one received training, driving scenario, participants’ gender, DBQ-Violation scores, together with their sensation seeking measured by disinhibition, had a significant impact on their response behavior. Although both the DBQ and sensation seeking have been constantly reported to be linked with risky and aberrant driving behavior, we found that drivers with higher sensation seeking tended to respond to unexpected driving situations induced by vehicle cyberattacks in a less risky and potentially safer manner. This study incorporates not only human factors into the safety research of vehicle cybersecurity, but also builds direct connections between drivers’ risky driving style, which may come from their inherent risk-taking tendency, to response behavior to vehicle cyberattacks.

The Association Between Internet Gaming Disorder and Sensation Seeking Among Arab Adolescents.

Research on internet gaming disorder (IGD) has increased considerably over the last decade. Although most IGD research has focused on Western or South Asian samples, it is critical to understand and assess this disorder among other populations. The present study investigated the association between IGD and sensation seeking among Arab adolescents. An online survey consisting of the short internet gaming disorder short scale (IGDSS) and brief sensation seeking scale (B-SSS) was completed by 260 participants (mean age = 14.61, SD = 2.43). The results showed that sensation seeking behaviours were associated with higher gaming hours and greater chances of exhibiting IGD. The findings support the current perspective of understanding this disorder from a disease framework as it highlights the relevance of behavioural components in gaming addiction. Importantly, the results will further aid the development of reliable diagnosis and efficacious treatments within clinical practices.

Sensation seeking and its relationship with psychopathic traits, impulsivity and aggression: a validation of the Dutch Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS)

Sensation seeking is a personality trait that manifests as a preference for change, variety and novelty. Sensation seeking has been positively associated with different externalising behaviours. However, its associations with psychopathic traits, impulsivity and aggression are unclear. These associations were examined via the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) using individuals from the general population and forensic patients. The results show that the BSSS has good psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability and a four-factor structure. Additionally, the results support associations between sensation seeking and psychopathic traits, impulsivity and total scores of aggression but revealed no specific associations with different types of aggression (e.g. proactive and reactive). The Dutch BSSS is a valuable tool for assessing sensation seeking in both the general population and forensic patients. Future research should further examine its utility and explore the role of sensation seeking in antisocial conduct.

Sensation seeking versus alcohol use: Evaluating temporal precedence using cross-lagged panel models

Background: Sensation seeking has been theoretically conceptualized as the personality trait for novel and complex experiences responsible for the predilection of engaging in risky activities. The study evaluated several cross-lagged panel models premised on various measurement variations of sensation seeking to determine the extent that each representation operates as the temporal antecedent or consequent of alcohol use.Methods: Participants (N = 201) were United States college students under 21 years of age. The measures, completed in two assessments separated by a month, included the Sensation Seeking Scale-V (SSS-V) and its subscales of boredom susceptibility, disinhibition, experience seeking, thrill & adventure seeking; the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS); and the frequency and quantity of alcoholic drinks. Cross-lagged panel models containing synchronous correlations, auto-regressive paths, and cross-lagged paths were estimated in path analysis using structural equation modeling.Results: The cross-lagged panel model results varied depending on the measurement variant of sensation seeking. The SSS-V emerged as a longitudinal precursor to both drink frequency and quantity. Thrill & adventure seeking longitudinally anticipated drink frequency and quantity. However, disinhibition and drink quantity reciprocally reinforced one another across time. Boredom susceptibility and experience seeking did not exhibit any temporal directionality with alcohol behaviors. Furthermore, the BSSS operated as a longitudinal precursor of drink quantity.Conclusions: Findings help to unravel the temporal precedent of sensation seeking versus alcohol behaviors based on the scrutiny of various sensation seeking measurement approaches.

Drunkorexia: is it really \u201cjust\u201d a university lifestyle choice?

PurposeThe current study investigated the prevalence of compensatory behaviours (caloric restriction, increased exercise and bulimic tendencies) in response to alcohol consumption (also known as Drunkorexia) in students, non-students and previous students, as well as beginning to understand the presence of possible predictors of these behaviours (body esteem, sensation seeking).MethodsA volunteer sample of students, non-students and previous students (n = 95) completed the Compensatory Eating and Behaviours in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale, a questionnaire which measures overall Drunkorexia engagement. The participants also completed the Body Esteem Scale for Adolescents and Adults Scale (BESAA) and the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) to investigate predictors of Drunkorexia.ResultsThe results indicated that there was no significant difference in Drunkorexia engagement and behaviours between students, non-students and previous students. It was also found that both low body esteem and high sensation seeking tendencies were significant predictors of Drunkorexia; specifically, the appearance esteem factor of the BESAA and the disinhibition factor of the BSSS.ConclusionsFindings suggest that Drunkorexia is also present outside of student populations, and therefore, future interventions and research should include non-students in samples. In addition, findings support the idea that Drunkorexia cannot be classified solely as an eating disorder or a substance abuse disorder. As a result of this, further research should be conducted to fully understand why this complex behaviour exists.Evidence-based medicine levelIII (Evidence obtained from case-control analytic study)

Immigrant status and problem-gambling severity in adolescents: Evidence for moderation by sensation seeking

Despite the multidimensional/ecological integrative perspective that suggests that the risk for problem gambling in adolescents can be determined by an interactive effect of different risk factors, few studies have investigated how different individual factors may affect the risk for problem gambling in a multiplicative way. This study aimed at exploring the interaction between immigrant status (IS) and sensation seeking (SS) on adolescent problem-gambling severity. The study involved 994 Italian adolescents (64% boys, Mage = 16.57, SD = 1.62). Participants’ IS, SS and problem-gambling severity were individually assessed through, respectively, a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) and the South Oaks Gambling Screen – Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA). Results showed that, among immigrant adolescents, there were higher levels of problem-gambling severity and a higher distribution of at-risk and problem gamblers with respect to non-immigrant adolescents. Both IS and SS had significant direct effects on problem-gambling severity, with IS and higher levels of SS being predictors of greater severity. A moderation analysis – controlling for gender and age – showed that adolescents with high scores of SS were more prone to experience gambling problems if they were also immigrant. These results have important implications for practice as they emphasize that specific interventions aimed at preventing problem gambling would be required for adolescents from immigrant families. In particular, it would be important to consider the role of SS in this specific youth target.

Revisiting the dimensionality of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale in Mainland China

I evaluated the dimensionality and psychometric properties of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) with 903 Chinese university student participants. I used internal consistency, convergent validity, divergent validity, factorial validity, and construct validity analysis to examine the psychometric properties of the 4-item shortened version of the BSSS and the 1- and 4-factor structure versions of the 8-item BSSS (BSSS-8). The results showed that only the single-factor BSSS-8 possessed acceptable psychometric properties and demonstrated good convergent and divergent validity. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the BSSS-8 with the 1-factor (vs. 4-factor) structure was more suitable when applied to university student participants in Mainland China. Future researchers could use the 1-factor BSSS-8 in the Chinese population to explore the positive impacts of sensation seeking on variables including entrepreneurship, financial investment, elite sportsmanship, and the creative industry.

The Influence of Self-Reported Tobacco Use on Baseline Concussion Assessments.

Baseline symptom, balance, and neurocognitive scores have become an integral piece of the concussion management process. Factors such as sleep, learning disorders, fitness level, and sex have been linked to differences in performance on baseline assessments; however, it is unclear how tobacco use may affect these scores. The objective of this study was to compare baseline concussion assessment scores between service academy cadets who use and do not use tobacco. Cadets completed a standard battery of concussion baseline assessments per standard of care and were classified into two groups: tobacco users (n=1,232) and nonusers (n=5,922). Dependent variables included scores on the Balance Error Scoring System, Standardized Assessment of Concussion, Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), Brief Symptom Inventory-18, and Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS). Separate Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare all baseline assessment scores between groups with an adjusted P-value<0.004. Cadets that used tobacco performed significantly worse on the impulse control (P<0.001) section of the ImPACT, reported greater ImPACT symptom severity scores (P<0.001), and were more likely to take risks as measured by the BSSS (P<0.001). No differences were detected for Balance Error Scoring System, Standardized Assessment of Concussion, Brief Symptom Inventory-18, and Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3 symptom scores, verbal memory, visual memory, visual-motor speed, or reaction time on the ImPACT (P>0.004). Tobacco users performed significantly worse than tobacco nonusers on the impulse control section of the ImPACT, reported greater symptom severity scores on the ImPACT, and were more likely to take risks as measured by the BSSS. Despite statistical significance, these results should be interpreted with caution, as the overall effect sizes were very small. Future research should examine the influence of tobacco use on recovery post-concussion.

Helmet Use and Risk-Taking Behavior Among Skiers and Snowboarders.

To characterize factors associated with helmet use and risk-taking behavior among recreational skiers and snowboarders. Observational study. Large, western United States mountain resort. 1285 male and female recreational skiers and snowboarders were interviewed during a single winter ski season. Helmet use, demographic, and sport-related characteristics. Brief sensation seeking scale (BSSS) as a measure of risk-taking behavior and self-reported risk compensation. Of the respondents (N = 1285), 17.5%, 12.5%, and 70.0% reported that they never, sometimes, and always wore a helmet, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that individuals reporting sometimes wearing a helmet had significantly higher BSSS scores than those reporting never wearing a helmet (P = 0.031) or always wearing it (P = 0.018). Male gender, younger age, snowboarding, higher perceived sport ability, more days per year skiing or snowboarding, and more time spent in the terrain park were significantly associated with higher BSSS scores (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis focusing on subgroups of respondents who reported either sometimes or always wearing a helmet indicated that the odds of taking more risks when wearing a helmet for inconsistent helmet users was 75% higher than the odds for those who reported always wearing a helmet (P = 0.06). Inconsistent helmet users have characteristics of risk-taking behavior and risk compensation. Male gender, younger age, snowboarding, higher perceived sport ability, and more time spent on the mountain and in the terrain park are also important determinants of risk-taking behavior.

Adaptation of the brief sensation seeking scale in Spanish young adults: Psychometric properties and validity evidence

Sensation seeking is a bio-psychological construct characterized by the willingness to pursue new, exciting and intense experiences. Previous research has shown that sensation seeking is strongly related to a range of risky and disruptive behaviors, especially among the young. The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) is an eight-item scale that has shown promising results and given evidence of its validity and reliability in North-American, Italian, Chinese, Peruvian, and Portuguese samples. The aim of the current study is to provide a concise, reliable and valid version of the BSSS in a sample of young Spanish adults and adolescents. To this end, two samples of 600 young adults and a third sample of 584 adolescents and young adults were recruited through online sampling. The results showed that: 1) the psychometric properties of the BSSS were adequate, 2) a strict factorial invariance level can be established across gender, with no structural differences between men and women, and 3) the BSSS is strongly related to alcohol use and the search for meaning. Taken together, our findings provide strong validity evidence, in line with previous research, showing that the BSSS is a psychometrically sound instrument for assessing sensation seeking in Spanish adolescents and young adults.

Consistency between subjectively and objectively measured hazard perception skills among young male drivers

Young male drivers have lower hazard perception skills (HPS) than older and more experienced drivers and a tendency to overestimate their skills in hazardous situations. Both factors contribute to an over-representation in traffic accidents. Based on a sample of 63 drivers aged 18–24, this study compares the consistency of HPS measured by objective and subjective measures and the link between these measures is the key contribution of the study. Both visible and hidden hazards are included. Objective measures of HPS include responsiveness and eye movements while driving in a driving simulator. Subjective measures of HPS include self-reports derived based on the Hazard Perception Questionnaire (HPQ), Driving Skill Questionnaire (DSQ), and Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS). Results show that drivers who respond to the hazards on time, as compared to drivers who do not respond, have higher scores on subjective measures of HPS and higher driving skills in the visible but not in the hidden condition. Eye movement analysis confirms the difference and shows that response in time to hazards indicate higher HPS and young drivers are poor at detecting hidden hazards. Drivers with a response in time locate the hazard faster, have more fixations, but dwell less on the hazard. At the same time, those who do not respond have a later first fixation and fewer but longer fixations on the hazard. High sensation seeking drivers respond to visible hazards on time, suggesting that sensation seeking does not affect HPS negatively when the hazard is visible. To enhance the HPS among young drivers, the results of this study suggest that specific hazard perception training is relevant, especially for hazards that require more advanced HPS.

The Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale: Latent Structure, Reliability, and Validity From a Sample of Youths At-Risk for Delinquency

ABSTRACTSensation seeking is a robust predictor of a wide array of conduct problems that include juvenile delinquency and antisocial behaviors during adolescence and young adulthood. The primary aim of the present study was to adapt the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS) for use in research on youths atrisk for delinquency. With a sample of 412 male and female participants (M = 13.19 years, SD = 1.41) from Portugal, confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the one-factor latent structure of the scale obtained a good fit, and measurement invariance across gender was demonstrated. The BSSS showed mostly good psychometric properties, namely in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficient), convergent validity (with delinquent behaviors and dark triad traits of personality), discriminant validity (with self-esteem and self-control), and criterion-related validity (with health-risk behaviors such as drug use, unprotected sex) that overall justifies its use among the adolescent population at risk for delinquency.

The Psychometric Properties of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS)

The goal of the study was to validate the English version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS; Csibi et al. 2016), which is a short and easy-to-use tool for screening the risk of smartphone application-based addiction. Another aim was to identify the most frequently used smartphone applications and their perceived importance by the participants. Data were collected online from 240 English-speaking volunteers, aged 18 to 69 years. The instruments used were the SABAS, the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS), the Deprivation Sensation Scale (DSS), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Participants also ranked the importance of their most frequently used smartphone applications. The six items of the SABAS yielded one component, which accounted for 52.38% of the total variance. The internal reliability of the scale was good (Cronbach’s alpha 0.81). NMP-Q was a significant predictor of SABAS, explaining 17.6% of the total variance. The regression analysis, with SABAS score as the dependent variable and NMP-Q, DSS, PHQ-9, and BSSS scores as predictors, indicated that approximately 47% of the variance in SABAS was accounted for by the predictors (R2 = 0.47). The English version of the SABAS appears to be a valid and reliable ultra-brief tool for a quick and easy assessment of smartphone application-based addiction symptoms.

Factors Associated With Helmet Use and Risk-Taking in Skiing and Snowboarding

INTRODUCTION: Over the past decade, helmet use in recreational skiing and snowboarding has increased dramatically, while injury rates have remained stable or increased. There has been ongoing discussion regarding the concept of risk compensation as an explanation for this trend. Risk compensation is the theory that people will adjust behavior based on a perceived level of risk, thus behaving less cautiously when they feel protected. Recent studies suggest that increased skier and snowboarder risk-taking is not associated with helmet use, but is associated with other factors, including age, skill, sex, and risk-taking proclivity. PURPOSE: This study sought to characterize factors associated with risk-taking behavior among recreational skiers and snowboarders. METHODS: This study was a prospective cross sectional survey of skiers and snowboarders at a large western United States mountain resort. Individuals responded to survey questions regarding attitudes and practices surrounding helmet use, the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS) as a measure of risk taking behavior, and self-reported risk compensation. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression (MLR) and logistic regression (LR). RESULTS: Of the respondents (N = 1,267), 17.7%, 13.1%, and 69.2% reported that they wore a helmet never, sometimes, and always, respectively. The MLR analysis showed that, after adjusting for common demographic variables, individuals reporting to sometimes wear a helmet had significantly higher BSSS scores than those reporting to never wear a helmet (p = 0.010). It was also found that male sex, younger age, snowboarding, and higher perceived sport ability level were significantly associated with higher BSSS scores (p < 0.05). The LR analysis indicated that the odds of taking more risks when wearing a helmet for inconsistent helmet users was 1.57 times higher than the odds for those who reported to always wear a helmet. CONCLUSION: Individuals who inconsistently wear a helmet have characteristics of risk taking behavior and risk compensation more than those who always wear a helmet or never wear a helmet. Male sex, younger age, snowboarding, and higher perceived sport ability are also important determinants in risk taking behavior. These results will inform future injury prevention research in these high risk sports.

Utilisation problématique de Facebook à l’adolescence et au jeune âge adulte

BackgroundToday, social networks and in particular Facebook, bring together many adolescents and young adults and offer new ways of communicating. However, these communication tools can lead to a problematic use and appears to be associated with psychopathological symptoms. Therefore, this problematic Facebook use (or Facebook addiction) is an emerging issue; few research studies have been conducted on these characteristics particularly among adolescents and young adults, and fewer within French samples. ObjectiveOur main objective was to compare psychopathological characteristics of problematic and non-problematic Facebook users, in terms of parental style, personality, psychopathological symptoms and motivations. We suppose problematic Facebook users are different from non-problematic users in terms of parental style, personality, psychopathological disorders and motives. Participants and methodFour hundred and fifty-six adolescents and young adults aged between 12 and 25-years-old [108 boys (24%); 348 girls (76%)] with a Facebook account completed an online questionnaire consisting of several scales : the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) designed to Facebook problematic use, the questionnaire of motivations for using Facebook, the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D10), the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A), the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS), the borderline personality scale of the PDQ-4 and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). ResultsTwelve percent of girls and 5% of boys had a problematic Facebook use. Principal motivations for Facebook use were relationship maintenance, entertainment and passing time for problematic and non-problematic Facebook users. Problematic Facebook users (n=47) had significant higher scores for each motivation of Facebook use (P<0.001) and for depressive symptomatology (P<0.001), social anxiety (P<0.001), borderline personality traits (P<0.001) and perceived control from the mother (P=0.01), and a significant lower score for perceived care from the mother (P=0.03). ConclusionProblematic Facebook use concerns a significant minority of adolescents and young adults, and more significantly women. Nevertheless, problematic Facebook users were characterized by a higher level of psychopathological symptoms compared to non-problematic Facebook users. Results suggest the need of achieving more researches on this field and preventing this specific Facebook problematic use.

Caffeinated Alcohol, Sensation Seeking, and Injury Risk.

College students who consume caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CaffAlc) are at increased injury risk. This study examines the extent to which a sensation-seeking personality accounts for the relationship between consumption of CaffAlc and negative outcomes. A Web-based survey was administered to stratified random samples of 4907 college students from eight North Carolina universities in Fall 2009. Sensation seeking was assessed using the Brief Sensation-Seeking Scale (BSSS) (α=0.81). Data were analyzed using linear and logistic regression. 3390 students (71.2%) reported past 30-day drinking, of whom 786 (23.2%) consumed CaffAlc. CaffAlc past 30-day drinkers had higher BSSS scores (3.8 vs. 3.4; p<0.001), compared to non-CaffAlc drinkers. Consumption of CaffAlc was associated with more frequent binge drinking (p<0.001) and drunken days in a typical week (p<0.001), even after adjusting for the BSSS score. CaffAlc students were more likely to be taken advantage of sexually (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.70, p=0.012), drive under the influence of alcohol (AOR=2.00, p<0.001), and ride with a driver under the influence of alcohol (AOR=1.87, p<0.001). Injury requiring medical treatment was more prevalent among CaffAlc students with higher BSSS-8 scores (interaction p=0.024), even after adjustment for drinking levels and student characteristics. Sensation seeking does not fully account for the increase in risky drinking among college students who consume CaffAlc, nor does it moderate the relationship between CaffAlc and drinking behaviors. Sensation seeking moderates the risk of alcohol-associated injury requiring medical treatment among college students who consume CaffAlc. Those with strong sensation-seeking dispositions are at the highest risk of alcohol-associated injury requiring medical treatment.