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. 2012 Nov;37(11):1230-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.06.004. Epub 2012 Jun 9.

Trait-based affective processes in alcohol-involved "risk behaviors"

Tyler B Wray  1 , Jeffrey S Simons, Robert D Dvorak, Raluca M Gaher
Affiliations

Trait-based affective processes in alcohol-involved "risk behaviors"

Tyler B Wray et al. Addict Behav. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

This study tested a theoretical model of alcohol use, markers of extreme intoxication, and risk behavior as a function of trait affect, distress tolerance, and affect-based behavior dysregulation. Positive affective pathways to risk behavior were primarily expected to be indirect via high levels of alcohol use, while negative affect paths were expected to be more directly associated with engagement in risk behavior. In addition, we expected trait affectivity and distress tolerance would primarily exhibit relationships with alcohol use and problems through behavioral dysregulation occurring during extreme affective states. To evaluate these hypotheses, we tested a SEM with three alcohol-related outcomes: "Typical" alcohol use, "blackout" drinking, and risk behavior. High trait negative affect and low tolerance for affective distress contribute to difficulty controlling behavior when negatively aroused and this is directly associated with increased risk behavior when drinking. In contrast, associations between positive urgency and risk behaviors are indirect via increased alcohol consumption. Positive affectivity exhibited both inverse and positive effects in the model, with the net effect on alcohol outcomes being insignificant. These findings contribute important information about the distinct pathways between affect, alcohol use, and alcohol-involved risk behavior among college students.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interet

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural model for the full sample (N = 545). All values are unstandardized coefficients. Dashed lines indicate non-significant paths. Gender is omitted for clarity. All exogenous variables, as well as positive and negative urgency, were allowed to covary. †p < .05, *p < .01, **p< . 001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Direct effects of positive affectivity on blackout drinking as a function of levels of positive urgency.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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