The role of impulsivity in the relationship between affect and alcohol consumption in young adults

Abstract

Background: Theoretical models of alcohol use posit that individuals consume alcohol to ameliorate negative affect or to heighten positive affect. It is important, however, to consider the influence of factors that may determine an individual's tendency to consume excessive amounts of alcohol under positive and negative circumstances. Thus, the current study examined a large sample of young adults to clarify whether positive and negative affect predict total alcohol consumption on drinking days and whether facets of impulsivity moderate these relationships.

Methods: Six-hundred ninety-three young adults (M_age = 19.71 years, SD = 2.04; female = 62.9%) completed the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scales at baseline followed by daily measures of positive and negative affect and self-reported alcohol use for 13 days. Generalized linear mixed models were specified to assess the role of pre-consumption affect on total drinks consumed across drinking days and to determine the moderating effect of each BIS/BAS subscale.

Results: Participants were significantly more likely to drink in greater quantities on occasions preceded by higher positive affect but not negative affect. While fun-seeking positively predicted total drinks consumed, there were no significant interaction effects between the BIS/BAS subscales and affect on total drinks consumed.

Conclusions: These findings challenge existing affect regulation models and have implications for ecological momentary interventions aimed at addressing hazardous drinking behaviors.

Keywords: affect; alcohol use; ecological momentary assessment; impulsivity; young adults.