Addictive Behaviors
Kirstyn N. Smith-LeCavalier, B.S.
Predoctoral Student
University of Washington, Seattle
Seattle, Washington
MARY E. LARIMER, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington
Anne M. Fairlie, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
University of Washington School of Medicine
Seattle, Washington
College student alcohol use is a public health concern and associated with unwanted alcohol-related consequences. Research has shown facets of impulsivity (e.g., negative urgency) and protective behavioral strategies (PBS; behaviors individuals can engage in before, during, or after drinking to reduce use or consequences) are associated with alcohol use or consequences. PBS use may serve as a protective factor that moderates the relation between impulsivity facets and alcohol outcomes; however, research to date has produced inconsistent findings. Additionally, similar to impulsivity, research suggests low consideration of future consequences (CFC) may relate to alcohol outcomes. The present study extends the literature by: (1) examining PBS subscales (stopping/limiting (S/L), manner of drinking (MOD), serious harm reduction (SHR)) as moderators of the relation between impulsivity facets (premeditation (PM), negative urgency (NU), sensation seeking (SS)) and alcohol use/consequences; and (2) exploring PBS subscales as moderators of the relation between CFC and alcohol use/consequences. We conducted secondary analyses of data from 301 college students (Mage = 20.16), majority female (52.8%), white/Caucasian (69.4%), and non-Hispanic/Latino (91.8%), who endorsed 2+ drinks in the past week and 1+ occasions of heavy episodic drinking in the past 2 weeks. Participants averaged 14.6 (SD = 8.9) drinking days in the past month and 8.3 (SD = 4.2) consequences. We used quasipoisson-specified generalized linear models due to the negative binomial distribution of outcome variables to assess moderating effects of all PBS subscales on the relation between impulsivity subscales/CFC and use/consequences, with age and sex assigned at birth as covariates, controlling for use in all consequence models. All PBS subscales were negatively correlated with use/consequences. PM was negatively correlated with use/consequences, NU positively correlated with consequences, and SS positively correlated with use. In assessing moderating effects, S/L PBS moderated the relation between NU and use; specifically, among those with low NU, higher S/L PBS was associated with more use and among those with high NU, higher S/L PBS was associated with less use. Additionally, SHR PBS moderated the relation between NU and use such that among those with low NU, higher SHR PBS was associated with less use and among those with high NU, higher SHR PBS was associated with more use. PBS did not moderate the relation between CFC and use/consequence; however, CFC was positively correlated with SHR PBS and PM, and negatively correlated with NU, SS, and consequences. Moderation results identified a novel interaction observed between NU and S/L PBS. However, the NU and SHR PBS interaction contributes to the current contradictory evidence in the literature, as previous studies have found either no or an opposing effect. These finding suggest different PBS may be more helpful for certain individuals (i.e., S/L for those high on NU). In conjunction with previous literature, findings suggest risk and protective factors, including impulsivity, CFC, and PBS may need to be further evaluated to increase understanding of for whom impulsivity/CFC and alcohol outcome relations may vary.