Differential effects of UPPS-P impulsivity on subjective alcohol response and craving: An experimental test of acquired preparedness.

Abstract

Recent studies have extended the acquired preparedness model to experimental data, finding that impulsivity predicts subjective alcohol response, a related yet distinct construct from expectancies. However, studies have not tested whether specific facets of impulsivity predict subjective response, or whether impulsivity indirectly predicts alcohol craving through subjective response. Young adults who reported past-month binge drinking (N = 448) participated in a placebo-controlled alcohol administration study. Mediation models tested whether UPPS-P impulsivity facets indirectly predicted alcohol craving through subjective response on the ascending and descending limbs of the blood alcohol content (BAC). High arousal positive (e.g., sociable), low arousal positive (e.g., relaxed), high arousal negative (e.g., rude), and low arousal negative (e.g., dizzy) subjective effects were measured across limbs. Moderation by beverage condition was not detected, so models were collapsed across beverage condition. Sensation seeking indirectly predicted craving through high arousal positive subjective response on both limbs, whereas positive and negative urgency directly predicted craving. When controlling for baseline subjective response and craving, effects of sensation seeking and negative urgency on subjective response and craving became nonsignificant. The effects of positive urgency on craving remained, and an effect of positive urgency on high arousal positive effects emerged on the ascending limb. Findings suggest that relations among impulsivity, subjective response, and craving are contingent upon the specific facet of impulsivity. Interventions targeting predrink cue exposure and/or positive emotionality may be most effective for sensation seekers, whereas targeting subjective response and/or expectancies may be most efficacious for individuals high in positive urgency. Public Health SignificanceImpulsive personality traits are thought to confer risk for acute negative alcohol outcomes, but no study to date has tested the indirect effects of UPPS-P impulsivity facets on craving through subjective response. The present study found that sensation seeking and negative urgency showed anticipatory effects on acute high arousal positive subjective response and craving, whereas positive urgency showed in the moment expectancy effects on high arousal positive subjective response and craving, particularly on the ascending limb. Findings suggest that targeting positive emotionality and/or cue exposure before drinking may be beneficial interventions for individuals high in sensation seeking, whereas targeting high arousal positive expectancies may be more beneficial for individuals high in positive urgency.

Multilevel longitudinal relations among impulsive traits, positive expectancies, and binge drinking from late adolescence to adulthood: A developmental test of acquired preparedness

“…, findings support newer studies showing that sensation seeking may also relate to positive expectancies, particularly those indicative of positive reinforcement (e.g., sociability, enhanced arousal;Scott & Corbin, 2014;Waddell, Corbin, & Leeman, 2021). There was also a strong correlation between the random intercepts of positive expectancies and binge drinking, and thus, the inclusion of positive expectancies in the model likely inhibited potential between-person relations among impulsive traits and binge drinking.…”

“…In fact, meta‐analytic findings suggest that impulsive traits representing a lack of conscientiousness (i.e., generalized impulsivity) are the strongest predictors of higher drinking quantity and heavy drinking, and sensation seeking is the strongest predictor of heavy drinking frequency (Coskunpinar et al, 2013). In addition, newer studies find that both impulsive traits predict alcohol outcomes uniquely, i.e., above and beyond one another (McCarty et al, 2017; Waddell, Corbin, & Leeman, 2021; Waddell et al, 2022), particularly that a lack of conscientiousness is associated with heavier drinking above and beyond sensation seeking.…”

Maturing out of alcohol and cannabis co‐use: A test of patterns and personality predictors

“…Once the optimal trajectory class solution was chosen, class membership was predicted from personality variables (sensation seeking, conscientiousness, and neuroticism) and family history of alcohol disorder. All three personality traits (as well as a family history of alcohol disorder) were entered into the model together to parse apart the unique effects of each trait on substance use trajectories (e.g., Kearns et al, 2022; Waddell et al, 2021b). The manual R3step method was used to predict class membership, which accounts for classification error in the most likely class membership (Asparouhov & Muthén, 2014).…”

Changes in affect and alcohol craving during naturally occurring drinking episodes: The role of day-level drinking motives.

“…One such moderator could be impulsive personality traits. For instance, individuals who act rashly in positive mood states may feel acute desire in the presence of acute increases in positive (but not negative) affect, whereas individuals who act rashly in a negative mood state may feel acute desire in the presence of acute increases in negative (but not positive) affect (e.g., Waddell, Corbin, & Leeman, 2021). Thus, future research is needed to test whether other variables underly the directionality through which changes in affect are associated with increased versus decreased craving.…”