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.