Page No.182-188
Shica Ann Joseph,
Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai
D. Barani Ganth, and S. Thyagarajan
Pondicherry University, Puducherry
.
Alcoholism is a widely used term which is generally referred to chronic drinking, or
periodic consumption of alcohol that is characterized by impaired control over
drinking, chronic intoxication, preoccupation with drinking, impaired cognitive
functioning, and changes in one’s personality. The main objective of this study is to
find out the difference in the levels of cognitive failure across different levels of
alcoholism. This study also examined the correlation of the Big Five Personality
dimensions with level of alcoholism and cognitive failure. The sample for the study
consisted of 91 male participants who have the habit of drinking alcohol. Michigan
alcoholism screening test (MAST) was used to categorize the participants into three
groups (levels) of alcoholics. The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) was used
to assess the cognitive functioning of the three groups. The Big Five Locator was
administered to identify the individual’s score on five different personality dimensions.
Results indicated that the three groups of alcoholics differed significantly in their
level of cognitive failure, i.e. the different levels of alcoholism significantly affect the
degree of cognitive failure within an individual. Certain personality dimensions,
along with level of alcoholism, significantly predict cognitive failure. Married men
significantly differed from unmarried men in their level of alcohol consumption and
degree of cognitive failure
.
.