Prediction of student's attitudes toward addiction based on the big five personality traits

The aim of this study was the prediction of student's attitudes toward addiction based on the big five personality traits among students in Markazi Province, Iran. The research method was descriptive-correlation. A sample of 238 students of Payam-e-Noor Delijan, Saveh and Mahallat in 2015 were selected through multistage cluster sampling. In order to measure the variables of the research, questionnaires about attitude toward addiction and short form of big five personality inventory were used. Data were analyzed using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The results of this study indicated significant negative correlations between openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness personality traits, and attitudes toward addiction. There was no significant relationship between extraversion and neuroticism personality traits with attitudes toward addiction. Based on the results of stepwise regression analysis, agreeableness and openness to experience have significant predictors of positive attitudes toward addiction in students. These two personality traits explained 9% of variance in attitudes toward addiction. In the therapeutic and preventive interventions of addiction, attention to personality traits, especially agreeableness and openness to experience are important.