Integrating variable centered and person centered approaches for personality and nicotine use

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between Big Five personality traits and nicotine use, integrating both variable-centered and person-centered approaches to capture the complexity of trait interactions. Data were drawn from a publicly available online survey of 1885 English-speaking adults, categorized as never users (n = 428), former users (n = 582), or current users (n = 875) based on nicotine use. Personality traits were assessed using the Five-Factor Personality Inventory, measuring neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, with additional data on age, sex, and education. Multinomial logistic regression identified openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness as significant predictors of nicotine use. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) revealed four personality profiles: "Ordinary," "Expressive," "Cautious," and "Unstable," with significant differences in nicotine use patterns. The "Unstable" and "Expressive" profiles were associated with current use, while the "Cautious" profile was linked to never use. Sociodemographic factors varied significantly across profiles. These findings underscore the importance of integrating both variable-centered and person-centered approaches to better understand the role of personality traits in nicotine use. Tailored interventions, considering the unique characteristics of each personality profile, may improve nicotine cessation and prevention efforts.