Relations of agentic and communal personality traits to health behavior and substance use among college students

This study examined relations of agentic and communal personality traits to health behavior, substance use, and consequences of substance use in a sample of 201 undergraduates. As predicted, unmitigated agency was associated with a variety of maladaptive health behaviors, including binge eating, reckless driving, and substance use. By contrast, agency was associated with adaptive health behaviors such as physical activity and healthy eating patterns. Unmitigated communion was unrelated to behavior. Findings are consistent with a growing body of theory and research suggesting that unmitigated agency is a risk factor for externalizing problems, whereas agency is linked to positive health practices.