Kristen P Lindgren1, Jeni L Burnette2, Crystal L Hoyt3, Kirsten P Peterson1, Clayton Neighbors4. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 2. Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. 3. Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, Texas.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Explicit (self-report) and implicit (indirect) measures of identification with drinking alcohol-drinking identity-are associated with drinking outcomes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. A key next step is to identify moderators. The current study evaluated a promising moderator: mindsets of alcoholism. Believing people can change (growth mindset) is associated with adaptive outcomes in domains such as mental health, but research is scant regarding mindsets related to problematic drinking. We evaluated whether individuals' alcoholism mindsets moderated the drinking identity to drinking relation as part of a larger, longitudinal web-based study of heavy drinkers. METHODS: A total of 422 US college graduates (59% women) who were heavy drinkers completed measures assessing drinking identity, mindsets, and drinking outcomes (consumption, problems, and risk of alcohol use disorder). Drinking outcomes were assessed at 2 subsequent assessments occurring 4 and 8 months after the initial assessment. RESULTS: Drinking identity was positively associated with drinking outcomes, and drinking outcomes reduced following college graduation. Alcoholism mindsets were significantly and negatively correlated with all drinking outcomes. Mindsets were only conditionally associated with drinking behaviors over time in models that evaluated mindsets, drinking identity measures, and their interaction. Mindsets moderated the relationship between drinking identity and changes in drinking behaviors, but the relation was specific to explicit drinking identity and consumption. Among participants with stronger drinking identity, those who had stronger (vs. weaker) growth mindsets reported reduction in consumption over time. CONCLUSIONS: Growth mindsets of alcoholism appear adaptive for college graduate heavy drinkers with a stronger drinking identity. Mindsets are amenable to interventions; targeting them may be useful in heavy-drinking college graduates.
BACKGROUND: Explicit (self-report) and implicit (indirect) measures of identification with drinking alcohol-drinking identity-are associated with drinking outcomes cross-sectionally and longitudinally. A key next step is to identify moderators. The current study evaluated a promising moderator: mindsets of alcoholism. Believing people can change (growth mindset) is associated with adaptive outcomes in domains such as mental health, but research is scant regarding mindsets related to problematic drinking. We evaluated whether individuals' alcoholism mindsets moderated the drinking identity to drinking relation as part of a larger, longitudinal web-based study of heavy drinkers. METHODS: A total of 422 US college graduates (59% women) who were heavy drinkers completed measures assessing drinking identity, mindsets, and drinking outcomes (consumption, problems, and risk of alcohol use disorder). Drinking outcomes were assessed at 2 subsequent assessments occurring 4 and 8 months after the initial assessment. RESULTS: Drinking identity was positively associated with drinking outcomes, and drinking outcomes reduced following college graduation. Alcoholism mindsets were significantly and negatively correlated with all drinking outcomes. Mindsets were only conditionally associated with drinking behaviors over time in models that evaluated mindsets, drinking identity measures, and their interaction. Mindsets moderated the relationship between drinking identity and changes in drinking behaviors, but the relation was specific to explicit drinking identity and consumption. Among participants with stronger drinking identity, those who had stronger (vs. weaker) growth mindsets reported reduction in consumption over time. CONCLUSIONS: Growth mindsets of alcoholism appear adaptive for college graduate heavy drinkers with a stronger drinking identity. Mindsets are amenable to interventions; targeting them may be useful in heavy-drinking college graduates.
Authors: Chia-Kuei Lee; Colleen Corte; Karen F Stein; Chang G Park; Lorna Finnegan; Linda L McCreary Journal: Res Nurs Health Date: 2014-12-24 Impact factor: 2.228
Authors: Kristen P Lindgren; Clayton Neighbors; Bethany A Teachman; Scott A Baldwin; Jeanette Norris; Debra Kaysen; Melissa L Gasser; Reinout W Wiers Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2016-08 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Kristen P Lindgren; Scott A Baldwin; Cecilia C Olin; Reinout W Wiers; Bethany A Teachman; Jeanette Norris; Debra Kaysen; Clayton Neighbors Journal: Alcohol Alcohol Date: 2018-07-01 Impact factor: 2.826