The generality of individual differences in the estimation of size.

These two studies pursued the notion that there are individual differences of considerable generality in the extent to which individuals estimate the size of objects, including body image and physical objects such as a blank card. In the first study, 79 female undergraduate students estimated the width of their own bodies (head, shoulders, waist, and hips), the waist of a standard "real" person, the bodies of two life-size wooden figures, and three boxes. In the second study, 60 female undergraduate students estimated the width of their bodies, three boxes, and two blank cards. Errors in estimation, computed as the difference between estimate and true value divided by the true value, were obtained from all subjects. Correlations between body-image errors and all other errors in estimation were positive in both studies, except for one correlation of - .02. Factor analyses of the correlations between the error scores in each study indicated a substantial general factor, although some residual common variance remained. Results supported the proposition that individuals differ in a consistent fashion across a wide range of size-estimation situations.

Generality in the errors of estimation of body image.

An aspect of the considerable research on the association between eating disorders and discrepancies in body image estimation is the extent, if at all, that such discrepancies could be due to a more general tendency to show a positive or negative bias in estimation of the size of objects. One hundred female subjects, without known eating disorder, estimated the width of their own bodies (head, shoulders, waist, and hips), of another person's body (waist and hips), of four commercial packages, and of a cylinder. Errors in estimation, computed as algebraic differences from the true value, were computed, and all error means were found to be positive. Correlations between the error scores were all positive. Factor analysis of the correlations between the 11 error scores indicated a substantial general factor plus a bipolar factor, or alternatively two positively correlated factors referring to human body or physical measures. Results were interpreted as supporting the notion of a broad general tendency to enhance or diminish estimations of the width of familiar objects including estimations of the width of own body parts. The relevance of this finding to eating disorders was discussed.

Personality and situation as determiners of desire to drink among problem drinkers.

Interaction between (a) Anxiety-Neuroticism, Depression, Sensation Seeking, and Extroversion; and (b) desire to drink alcohol in different situations (Boring, Ceremonial, Convivial, Stressful, and Neutral) was investigated in a sample of 152 adults in detoxification centres. The desire to drink alcohol was found to vary depending upon the situation, although the general level of such desire was high. Those subjects high on Anxiety-Neuroticism were found to have an elevated desire to drink in Stressful, Convivial, and Boring situations. No evidence for interaction was found with Depression, Sensation Seeking, or Extroversion.

Personality and situation as determinants of desire to drink in young adults.

Interaction between certain personality traits (Neuroticism-Anxiety, Depression, Sensation Seeking, and Extraversion) and desire to drink alcohol in different situations (Boring, Stressful, Convivial, Ceremonial, and Neutral) was investigated using a sample of 171 students and questionnaire methodology. Modest support was found for certain interactional hypotheses. Desire to drink was greater in both Stressful and Convivial situations for those who scored higher on Neuroticism, Convivial Situations for those higher on Depression (Beck), and Boring situations for those higher on Sensation Seeking. These and other results are discussed.

Adolescent drug use in a behavioral matrix: a confirmation and comparison of the sexes.

An account is given of the desirability of considering non-medical drug use among young adolescents within a perspective involving other behaviors. 1008 boys and 1040 girls took part in the study. Major correlates of the use of marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco were sexual behavior, delinquency, and social behavior. Minor correlates were achievement and religiosity. Very few differences between the sexes were observed--and these were small in magnitude, though of interest.

Personality characteristics of young adult migraineurs.

Young adults with migraine headaches and nonmigraineurs were compared by means of two questionnaire batteries (the 16 P-F and PRF) and sets of specific measures focused on stimulation-seeking and independence. A number of low correlations were obtained but overall, results tend to contradict the existence of a "migraine personality" as a measureable entity.

Drug usage and outstanding performance among young adolescents.

In this study, 1,008 ninth grade boys and 1,040 ninth grade girls completed questionnaires concerning: (a) drug usage (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, psychedelics, etc.) over the previous 6 months; and (b) outstanding performance in art, school subjects, music, leadership, performing arts, athletics, and writing. In general, the outstanding performer is rather more likely to be an abstainer and less likely to fall into the high-user category than is a nonoutstanding performer. The strongest support for this appears to come from use of tobacco. Differences between outstanding and nonoutstanding students are, however, often quite small.

Adolescent drug use and other behaviors.

Little systematic information is available concerning the association between adolescent drug usage and other forms of behavior. The present study addressed this issue. Two hundred and thirty-one adolescents completed questionnaires concerning their use of drugs (alcohol, tobacco, pain-killers, marijuana, etc.). Factor analysis of endorsements of a broad range of behaviors, followed by regression analysis, indicated that sexual behavior, general delinquency, school misbehavior, social behavior and studying/reading (--) were all related to drug use. School achievement (--) and domestic behavior (--) gave lower correlations. Religious behavior did not emerge as a clear correlate.

Home and family correlates of prior drug involvement among institutionalized male adolescents.

The literature concerning drug abuse in adolescence has indicated that various aspects of the home and family background of a boy or girl may be important correlates of drug usage. Such correlates show differences in terms of form of measurement, specificity, and reliability. The present study is focused on a particular facet of this problem, namely prior drug abuse among a group of institutionalized Training School boys. Within this context it was hoped to obtain not only a broad spectrum of home and family variables but also, if feasible, global dimensions of this aspect of an adolescent's environment. All data come from case records.