Studies in the non medical use of drugs in Lebanon. II. Some personality correlates of marijuana users at AUB.

Author: Melikian, L. H., Nassau, N. T., & Der-Karabetian, A.

Source:
Journal Medical Libanais, 26(3), 233-40.
Abstract : II. This article is an extension of the work previously reported, involving the same university students from the Arab University of Beirut. The California Personality Inventory was administered to find any personality differences between those using marihuana and non-users. The personality variables used were: self-acceptance, self-control, flexibility and anxiety. The users were significantly more flexible than the non-users. Greater flexibility was associated with informality, rebelliousness, adventurousness and concern with personal pleasure and diversion. This fitted in with the subjects' given reasons for using marihuana-i.e. 69 of the users did so to have a new experience. In other words, the non-users were more cautious, conforming, and reflected rigidity of attitudes. The marihuana users were significantly (but not highly) more self-accepting than non-users. This implied self-confidence and aggressive and demanding attitudes. Absence of a difference between users and non-users in self-control and anxiety suggests that these factors do not play a part in the use or non-use of marihuana. N. H. Rathod.