Elena Bilevicius1, Chantal Van Landeghem1, Sherry H Stewart2,3, Simon B Sherry2,3, Matthew T Keough4. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Rd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 8th floor, Abbie J. Lane Building, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 2E2. 3. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, 6299 South St., Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 3J5. 4. Department of Psychology, York University, 4700 Keele St., North York, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3.
Abstract
AIMS: Alcohol use follows a developmental trajectory-steadily increasing and peaking in the early stages of emerging adulthood (e.g. first year of university) and declining thereafter. While most individuals 'mature out' of problem drinking as they move through emerging adulthood, some continue to drink heavily and experience serious problems. Tension reduction theory identifies social anxiety (SA) as a potential risk factor for problem drinking during emerging adulthood. However, mixed data suggest that the associations between SA and drinking behaviours are not straightforward. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that socially anxious emerging adults are at risk for problem drinking, but only if they are also high in trait impulsivity. This study aimed to expand on previous work by examining trait impulsivity as moderator of the prospective associations between SA and maturing out of problem drinking in emerging adulthood. METHODS: Undergraduates (N = 302) completed online self-reports at regular intervals (6-months) over an 18-month period, resulting in four waves of data. RESULTS: Unconditional latent growth curve models indicated that alcohol problems (but not use) declined linearly over time. Next, conditional growth curve models revealed that SA was associated with impeded maturing out of alcohol problems, but this effect was only present in socially anxious participants with high levels of trait impulsivity. CONCLUSION: Our study advances growing literature on the crucial moderating role that impulsivity plays in the SA pathway to problem drinking. Clinical interventions for problem drinking among socially anxious students should both assess for and target concurrent impulsivity.
AIMS: Alcohol use follows a developmental trajectory-steadily increasing and peaking in the early stages of emerging adulthood (e.g. first year of university) and declining thereafter. While most individuals 'mature out' of problem drinking as they move through emerging adulthood, some continue to drink heavily and experience serious problems. Tension reduction theory identifies social anxiety (SA) as a potential risk factor for problem drinking during emerging adulthood. However, mixed data suggest that the associations between SA and drinking behaviours are not straightforward. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that socially anxious emerging adults are at risk for problem drinking, but only if they are also high in trait impulsivity. This study aimed to expand on previous work by examining trait impulsivity as moderator of the prospective associations between SA and maturing out of problem drinking in emerging adulthood. METHODS: Undergraduates (N = 302) completed online self-reports at regular intervals (6-months) over an 18-month period, resulting in four waves of data. RESULTS: Unconditional latent growth curve models indicated that alcohol problems (but not use) declined linearly over time. Next, conditional growth curve models revealed that SA was associated with impeded maturing out of alcohol problems, but this effect was only present in socially anxiousparticipants with high levels of trait impulsivity. CONCLUSION: Our study advances growing literature on the crucial moderating role that impulsivity plays in the SA pathway to problem drinking. Clinical interventions for problem drinking among socially anxious students should both assess for and target concurrent impulsivity.