The role of sensation-seeking in alcohol use and risk-taking behavior among college women

The relationship of sensation-seeking to alcohol use and risk-taking behavi or was studied in a sample of college women. Two groups often, identified o n the basis of extreme high and low scores on the sensation-seeking trait, were selected from a larger pool of participants to complete a self-report assessment of willingness to engage in risky behavior while wider the influ ence of alcohol and to perform a series of driving simulation tasks, both w hile sober and while intoxicated at the legal limit for driving. It was hyp othesized that both groups would be more likely to rake risks when intoxica ted than when sober, and that high sensation-seekers would take greater ris ks than low sensation-seekers. Compared to low sensation-seekers, high sens ation-seekers reported significantly greater levels of alcohol use and were less likely to perceive danger associated with risky behaviors engaged in while under the influence of alcohol. Self-reported appraisal of willingnes s to take risks in general was unaffected by the actual sobriety condition of respondents. Risk-taking behavior measured in a driving simulation task was affected by state of intoxication. However, pronounced effects were onl y found for low sensation-seekers. The personality trait of sensation seeki ng appears to play an important mediating role in alcohol use and associate d risk-taking behavior in young women.