The findings support previous research indicating that emotion-regulation difficulties are broadly associated with alcohol-related consequences. Results suggest exposure and/or mindfulness based prevention/interventions with emotion focused psychoeducation may offer one path to reducing alcohol-related consequences among college students.

Although alcohol use can be problematic, research suggests considerable heterogeneity in problems across various drinking classes; particularly among the heaviest drinking groups. Differences in self-regulation may differentiate drinking classes. The current study evaluated differences in emotional and behavioral self-regulation across four empirically derived drinking classes. Participants (n = 1895 college students) completed online measures of demographics, alcohol involvement, and self-regulation. Using latent class analysis (LCA), four drinking classes were empirically derived. Moderate drinkers were the largest class (38.1%) followed by light drinkers (37.4%), heavy drinkers (17.8%), and problem drinkers (6.8%). Each class was predicted by self-regulation indicators in the LCA. With the exception of urgency, behavioral self-regulation distinguished primarily between light drinkers and the other three classes. Emotional self-regulation and urgency were not associated with use, but did distinguish among the most problematic class. Specifically, emotional instability and urgency were higher in the problem use class than all other classes. Overall, the findings suggest important differences in behavioral and emotional self-regulation across drinking classes that differentially contribute to use and consequences. Further, the results highlight the importance of examining homogenous subpopulations of drinkers that may differ on indices other than consumption.

Factors that increase automatic psychological processes may result in impulsive action and, consequently, aggressive behavior. The current cross-sectional study examined the association between the five-factor model of impulsivity-like traits (negative urgency, positive urgency, premeditation, perseverance, and sensation seeking), emotional lability, and physically aggressive behaviors among college students (n = 481) in a negative binomial hurdle model. In the logistic portion of the model, emotional lability was related to a higher likelihood of engaging in aggressive acts in the past 6 months. The association between emotional lability and the likelihood of aggressive behavior was moderated by two impulsivity-like traits: negative urgency and positive urgency. Specifically, emotional lability was related to engaging in aggressive acts among those with high negative urgency, and among those with low positive urgency. In the count portion of the model, emotional lability was uniquely related to the number of aggressive acts in the past 6 months. Our results indicate that emotional lability and facets of impulsivity interactively relate to engagement in aggressive behavior, suggesting that these variables be integrated into models of aggression.

OBJECTIVE Drinking remains a problem across college campuses. Changing this behavior requires interventions that can be easily and widely dispersed. Several theories place intentions as a proximal predictor of behavior change. The current study examines the effects of a web-based Deviance Regulation Theory (DRT) intervention on (1) intentions to use alcohol protective behavior strategies (PBS) and (2) associations between these intentions and actual behavior. METHODS Participants (n = 76) completed a six-week, web-based, study examining drinking behaviors. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a positive frame about individuals who use PBS or a negative frame about individuals who do not. They also reported normative perceptions of PBS use among college students. They subsequently logged onto a secure server each week to report on alcohol involvement, use of three types of PBS (Manner of Drinking, Stopping/Limiting, and Serious Harm Reduction), and intentions to use these PBS the following week. RESULTS Consistent with DRT, negative frames resulted in higher PBS use intentions if individuals held high normative beliefs about PBS use. Positive frames resulted in higher Manner of Drinking PBS use intentions if individuals held low normative beliefs about PBS use, but only if individuals endorsed a high belief in the frame. In addition, there was a DRT consistent increase in intention-action associations, but only for Stopping/Limiting PBS. DISCUSSION A brief web-based DRT intervention was effective at increasing PBS intentions and increasing PBS intention-action associations. DRT may provide a mechanism to additively or synergistically improve other web-based interventions for college drinking.