Intersection of Big Five Personality Traits and Substance Use on Social Media Discourse: AI-Powered Observational Study

Our findings challenge traditional models by demonstrating that in large-scale online discourse, SU expression is more powerfully linked to social-affiliative traits than to negative emotionality. The paradoxical protective role of neuroticism suggests that established risk profiles may not apply uniformly to digital environments, particularly during a public health crisis. These insights are vital for refining computational methods for public health surveillance and developing interventions that recognize the potent social drivers of SU in the digital age.