Drinking not thinking: A prospective study of personality traits and drinking motives on alcohol consumption across the first year of university

Abstract

The aim of this 3-wave prospective study was to test impulsivity-related and anxiety-related traits and drinking motives as predictors of alcohol consumption during Orientation Week (O-Week), and the first six months of university life in on-campus college residents. Students from two residential colleges (N=255, 34.5% female) completed surveys of drinking frequency and quantity for the week prior to university entry, during O-Week, 3 and 6 months later. A brief personality screen for impulsivity, sensation-seeking, anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness was administered along with measures of drinking motives and alcohol consumption. Using moderated mediation analyses and multilevel modeling, impulsivity was found to be the best predictor of drinking variability at O-Week with enhancement motives mediating the effect. This mediated effect was moderated by gender with the indirect effect only occurring for women. Impulsivity was also predictive of drinking change over 6 months, with high impulsive students maintaining heavier levels of drinking (even when controlling for gender). The findings of this study further supports impulsivity as a consistent predictor of student alcohol misuse, even in environments with strong pro-drinking cultures.

Understanding the Association Between Relative Sociability Prototypes and University Students' Drinking Intention

“…There were also robust associations between weaker intentions to heed government drinking recommendations and lower conscientiousness and higher sensation seeking impulsivity. These findings reflect previous links demonstrated between increased risk of harmful drinking among students with higher levels of sensation seeking impulsivity (Loxton, Bunker, Dingle, & Wong, 2015;LaBrie et al, 2014); higher levels of extraversion (Hakulinen, Elovainio, Batty, Virtanen, Kivimäki, & Jokela, 2015;Martsh & Miller, 1997) and lower levels of conscientiousness (Ham & Hope, 2003; Kashdan et al, 2005). Contrary to hypothesised effects, personality was not typically supported as a moderator of the relationship between relative sociability prototypes and drinking intention, yet some evidence was found to support the role of extraversion as a moderator of the relationship between relative sociability prototypes and intention to get drunk.…”

Australian personality research: Past, present, and future prospects

“…Her research has also revealed that reward sensitivity is directly associated with both dysfunctional eating and drinking, and that punishment sensitivity mediates the relationship between a chaotic family environment and dysfunctional eating in women (Loxton & Dawe, 2006). In addition, Loxton, Bunker, Dingle, and Wong (2015) recently found that impulsivity was the best predictor of tertiary student alcohol misuse, with highly impulsive students maintaining heavier levels of drinking over time.…”

“…Natalie Loxton (Griffith University) has made many contributions here to both clinical and educational domains, applying r-RST to understanding addiction generally, as well as problem gambling, substance abuse, and eating disorders. In addition, Loxton, Bunker, Dingle, and Wong (2015) recently found that impulsivity was the best predictor of tertiary student alcohol misuse, with highly impulsive students maintaining heavier levels of drinking over time. Her research has also revealed that reward sensitivity is directly associated with both dysfunctional eating and drinking, and that punishment sensitivity mediates the relationship between a chaotic family environment and dysfunctional eating in women (Loxton & Dawe, 2006).…”

Estructura interna de una escala de indefensión para jóvenes del norte de México

“…La citada correlación con la conducta e ideación suicida hace necesario desarrollar métodos de evaluación de los rasgos de indefensión, ya que disminuirlos se relaciona con una baja en la propensión al suicidio (Cuijpers et al, 2013;Alsalman & Alansari, 2016). A la par, mantiene una relación importante con la sensibilidad ante la ansiedad (Hudson, Wekerle, & Stewart, 2015;Loxton, Bunker, Dingle, & Wong, 2015;Castellanos-Ryan & Conrod, 2012;Baines, Jones, & Christiansen, 2016).…”