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Hazardous drinking and the dark triad: an antidote for manipulative behaviour among students

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Abstract

In recent times, increase in lack of morality, grandiose identity, emotional insecurity, impulsivity, and manipulative behaviours are stochastic traits behind students’ tendency to cheat and manipulate others. This study investigated the link between hazardous drinking, selected demographic factors and social aversive personality traits in a cross-sectional sample of 264 undergraduates purposively sampled. Data were obtained using standardised measures of the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the 27-item version Dark Triad (SD3). Multiple linear regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to examine the study variables. The results indicated a direct high correlation between hazardous alcohol use and dependence syndrome. The regressions results confirmed the study hypotheses that there will be a joint prediction of demographic variables and dark triad on hazardous drinking. The current findings suggested that older students and manipulative students with traits of Machiavellianism and psychopathy were more susceptible to engage in hazardous drinking. This underscored the recommendation that a well-structured psychosocial-educational program is a veritable University public health-based intervention to address the prevailing dark triad traits amongst students. Policy implications and directions for future studies were also outlined.

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Data Availability

All data, models, or codes that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Items include the raw data of the study obtained from the fieldwork and stored in IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Software file.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology and Security Studies, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, PMB 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

    Macpherson Uchenna Nnam

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

    James E. Effiong, David O. Iloma & Imbur M. Terfa

  3. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Benjamin Okorie Ajah

Authors
  1. Macpherson Uchenna Nnam
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  2. James E. Effiong
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  3. David O. Iloma
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  4. Imbur M. Terfa
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  5. Benjamin Okorie Ajah
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Correspondence to Macpherson Uchenna Nnam.

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Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was granted after research intention and proposed procedures for conducting the study was subjected to critiques by the Internal Department Research Board of Psychology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

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The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

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Nnam, M.U., Effiong, J.E., Iloma, D.O. et al. Hazardous drinking and the dark triad: an antidote for manipulative behaviour among students. Curr Psychol 42, 4286–4292 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01680-0

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