Alcohol Demand, Future Orientation, and Craving Mediate the Relation Between Depressive and Stress Symptoms and Alcohol Problems

Socio-Demographic, Behavioral and Psychological Factors Associated with High BMI among Adults in a Southeast Asian Multi-Ethnic Society: A Structural Equation Model

While various influencing factors of overweight and obesity have been identified, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We examined the relationships among sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors on anthropometry in a multi-ethnic population with overweight and obesity. Participants (N = 251) were recruited from January to October 2022. Mean age and self-reported BMI were 31.7 ± 10.1 years and 29.2 ± 7.2 kg/m². Participants were mostly female (52.4%) and overweight (58.2%). Multivariate multiple regression was performed using maximum likelihood estimation. Body mass index was associated with waist circumference, age, sex, race, marital status, education level, residential region, overeating habit, immediate thinking, self-regulation, and physical activity, but not anxiety, depression, or the intention to change eating habits. Final model indicated good fit: χ² (30, N = 250) = 33.5, p = 0.32, CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.988, RMSEA = 0.022, and SRMR = 0.041. Direct effects were found between BMI and overeating (β = 0.10, p = 0.004), race (β = -0.82, p < 0.001), marital status (β = -0.42, p = 0.001), and education level (β = -0.28, p = 0.019). Crisps (68.8%), cake (66.8%) and chocolate (65.6%) were identified as the most tempting foods. Immediate thinking indirectly increased overeating habits through poor self-regulation, although sociodemographic characteristics better predicted anthropometry than psycho-behavioral constructs.

The Lack of Influence of Homozygous Long Allele of the 5-HTTLPR Gene on the Severity of Alcohol Craving During 6 Weeks of Rehab Hospitalisation in Comparison to Not Homozygous and Homozygous Short Alleles - Preliminary Report

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the severity of alcohol craving according to allelic variants of the 5-HTTLPR gene polymorphism during hospitalisation and their association with selected clinical variables in alcohol-dependent patients.

Patients and Methods

The study is exploratory. Participants were investigated at the 2nd and 6th week of alcohol-dependence therapy in the addiction treatment unit. Recruitment was conducted among alcohol-dependent patients from several Polish drug treatment centres. The total sample size was 130 persons (12 females and 118 males). Study subjects' mean age was 43.0 years. Patients were investigated twice by using the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and once by using Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD) and taking a swab for genetic testing. The polymorphism of the gene encoding the serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR (SLC6A4) was determined from isolated DNA and its homozygous variants of short/short or long/long alleles and heterozygous short/long alleles were analysed.

Results

At 6th week of the follow-up, there was a decrease in the severity of alcohol craving in half of subjects with the short/short allele (p = 0.033) and in one-fifth of subjects with the long/short allele (p = 0.002) of the 5-HTTLPR gene. In subjects with long/long allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene, there was no change in the severity of alcohol craving between 2nd and 6th weeks of the study (p = 0.242).

Conclusion

There was no statistical influence of the homozygous long allele of the 5-HTTLPR gene on severity of alcohol craving during 6 weeks of rehab hospitalisation in comparison to not homozygous and homozygous short alleles. The s-allele was associated with decrease of alcohol craving. It may point on the potential need for differentiated rehabilitation methods depending on the genetic diversity of addicted patients and its role in the severity of alcohol craving.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish Version of the Dark Future Scale

Objective

This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Dark Future Scale that measures future anxiety.

Methods

The sample consisted of 478 university students aged 18-25 and used convenience sampling. They completed an online survey about sociodemographics, tobacco use, and life satisfaction, Dark Future Scale and Trait Anxiety Inventory-2 Trait Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis and Cronbach alpha values were used to test scale's structural validity and reliability. For convergent validity, we correlated the Turkish version of the Dark Future Scale with trait anxiety and examined the mean differences in smoking status and its association with life satisfaction.

Results

Majority of the participants were female (73.6%), with a mean age of 21.5 (SD = 1.67). Majority (53.6%) were regular tobacco users. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a 1-factor solution to be most optimal (χ ² = 17.091, df = 4, P = .002, χ²/df = 4.3, and root-mean-square error = 0.083, comparative fit index = 0.988, general fit index = 0.986, The Adjusted Goodness of Fit (AGFI) = 0.986, normalized fit index = 0.985). The alpha value for the scale reliability was 0.86. Turkish version of the Dark Future Scale was also significantly and positively correlated with trait anxiety (r(478) = .67, P <.01). Exploration of the association between smoking status and Turkish version of the Dark Future Scale showed that the mean score was significantly higher among smokers (M = 19.1, SD = 6.65) than nonsmokers (M = 17.7, SD = 7.69). Lastly, higher future anxiety was associated with lower life satisfaction (r(478) = -0.42, P < .01).

Conclusion

Turkish version of the Dark Future Scale is a reliable and valid scale to measure future anxiety. A brief and easy to apply, reliable, and valid future anxiety measure may be useful for many researchers in psychology and psychiatry.

Behavioral economics indices predict alcohol use and consequences in young men at 4-year follow-up

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The alcohol purchase task (APT), which presents a scenario and asks participants how many drinks they would purchase and consume at different prices, generates indices of alcohol reward value that have shown robust associations with alcohol-related outcomes in numerous studies. The aim was to test its prospective validity at 4-year follow-up.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

General population sample of young Swiss men.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 4594 Swiss young men (median age = 21, 25th - 75th quartiles = 20.5 - 21.5) completed baseline questionnaires; among those, 4214 (91.7%) were successfully followed-up 4 years later.

MEASUREMENTS

Alcohol reward value parameters (i.e. intensity, the planned consumption when drinks are free; breakpoint, the price at which consumption would be suppressed; O_max , the maximum alcohol expenditure; P_max , the price associated with O_max ; and elasticity, the relative change in alcohol consumption as a function of the relative change in price) were derived from the APT at baseline and used to predict self-reported weekly drinking amount, monthly binge drinking, alcohol-related consequences and DSM-5 alcohol use disorder criteria.

FINDINGS

Regression analyses, adjusting for the baseline alcohol measure, age, linguistic region and socio-economic indicators showed that intensity, breakpoint, O_max and elasticity significantly predicted all tested outcomes in the expected direction (e.g. standardized incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] = 1.11 [1.07-1.15], 1.07 [1.03-1.10], 1.08 [1.04-1.11], and 0.92 [0.89-0.95], respectively, for weekly drinking amount, all P < 0.001). P_max did not significantly predict any outcomes. Non-adjusted correlations, baseline adjusted regression and ancillary analyses using (1) latent alcohol variables, (2) multiple imputation for missing data and (3) replications in training and testing subsamples to evaluate predictive accuracy provided consistent findings.

CONCLUSIONS

The alcohol purchase task demand curve measures of alcohol reward value are useful in characterizing alcohol-related risk in young men and have long-term predictive utility.

Alcohol Use Cravings as a Mediator Between Associated Risk Factors on Increased Alcohol Use among Youth Adults in New York During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The sudden increase in alcohol use in the young adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic may be partially explained by social isolation and stress due to restricted stay-at-home orders. The goal of this study was to assess specific psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, and alcohol cravings) and COVID-19 diagnoses and their association with increased alcohol use and misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic among New York residents 18-35 years of age. Survey data were collected via Qualtrics between July 2020-October 2020. Path analyses tests were employed to test alcohol use cravings as a mediator. Among the total sample (N=575), mean age was 27.94±4.12; a majority were White non-Hispanic (66%), female (55%) and had completed a 4-year college or university degree (n = 249; 43.5%). Results revealed that alcohol use cravings was a significant mediator between sleep disturbances, having a COVID-19 diagnoses, and having mental health symptoms on increased alcohol use. Our findings underscore the importance of providing alcohol use prevention and treatment resources in this unprecedented COVID-19 era. Policymakers, public health professionals, and clinicians have a significant role in curbing the COVID-19-induced substance use epidemic.

Approach and avoidance alcohol inclinations in heavy drinking college students: An ecological momentary assessment study

BACKGROUND

Understanding the motivational determinants of drinking among college students is necessary to improve the identification of those at greatest risk and to inform prevention and treatment interventions. Alcohol craving, or the desire to use alcohol, is considered one important factor in the development and maintenance of drinking behaviors. Recent evidence suggests that the link between alcohol craving (approach inclinations) and alcohol use is moderated by desires not to use alcohol (avoidance inclinations). Using ecological momentary assessment, the present study investigated the influence of motivational conflict (high desires to use and high desires to not use alcohol) on alcohol consumption among college students.

METHODS

Undergraduate students (n = 80; 88.8% female) completed assessments of alcohol-related behaviors and alcohol motivation five times daily for fourteen days.

RESULTS

Although between-person effects were nonsignificant, significant within-person effects indicated that avoidance inclinations attenuated the effect of approach inclinations in the prediction of drinking (controlling for age, gender, drinking history, affect, day of week, and time of day).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings highlight the need for consideration of the unique effects of both approach and avoidance inclinations in the prediction of alcohol consumption and draw attention to the need for further investigation into the complex interplay of these processes in daily life.

Association Between Future Orientation and Anxiety in University Students During COVID-19 Outbreak: The Chain Mediating Role of Optimization in Primary-Secondary Control and Resilience

The unfamiliar and menacing epidemic has undoubtedly increased the anxiety of students. Therefore, the strategies to reduce anxiety are urgently required. The present study principally investigated a protective mechanism of future orientation in anxiety during the low-risk period of COVID-19 outbreak. The study was conducted in 528 non-infected students (range = 16-24 years) recruited from five universities in China. The participants completed questionnaires between January 22, 2021, and January 24, 2021. Chain intermediary analyses were performed after controlling for gender and age. Results indicated that future orientation lowers anxiety through (a) optimization in primary and secondary control, (b) resilience, and (c) chain mediating path of optimization in primary and secondary control coupled with resilience. We investigated how individuals deal with risk factors after encountering adversity and how their psychological flexibility stimulates and promotes them to achieve a well-adapted developmental state. This study provided reference suggestions on reducing anxiety levels during an emergency.

Evaluating alcohol demand, craving, and depressive symptoms among women in alcohol treatment

BACKGROUND

Depression and alcohol craving predict drinking and relapse rates among alcohol treatment seekers. Alcohol demand, or one's valuation of alcohol may be another determinant of drinking. There is little known about alcohol demand and its association with depression, craving, and drinking among treatment-seeking adults.

METHOD

Participants were 71 women with elevated depressive symptoms seeking outpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). At baseline, participants self-reported daily drinking amount, alcohol craving, depressive symptoms, and alcohol demand assessed with the alcohol purchase task (APT; a task requesting participants to make hypothetical purchases of drinks at escalating prices). Baseline associations among alcohol demand, depressive symptoms, alcohol craving, and drinking severity were assessed.

RESULTS

Participants averaged 40.68 (SD = 11.78) years of age, consumed 8.84 (SD = 5.14) drinks per drinking day and reported 15.45 (SD = 7.51) heavy drinking days in the past 30 days, and had an average PHQ-9 depression score of 13.00 (SD = 4.28). Results suggest that the alcohol demand metrics of intensity (consumption level when drinks are free) and O_max (maximum expenditure on alcohol) were associated with drinks per drinking day, whereas craving and depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with drinking. The number of heavy drinking days were not significantly associated with demand, craving, or depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that demand may reflect unique risk for drinking relative to craving or depressive symptoms. These findings provide support for the utility of the APT within a clinical setting to assess individualized valuation of alcohol.

Alcohol Craving and Psychiatric Disorders Among Current Drinkers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Previous research has shown that alcohol craving is associated with psychiatric comorbidities. However, no population studies have examined the odds of psychiatric disorders in cravers and noncravers. The purpose of this study was to investigate current prevalence rates and odds ratios of psychiatric disorders among alcohol drinkers with and without alcohol craving in a population-based sample. We also compared four craving groups (cravers with and without alcohol use disorder [AUD], noncravers with and without AUD) for psychiatric comorbidities.

METHODS

The study data were drawn from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). A subset of the NESARC sample (N = 22 000) who reported alcohol use during the past 12 months was included. Prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders were compared among current drinkers with alcohol craving (N = 900) and without alcohol craving (N = 21 500).

RESULTS

Cravers had higher prevalence rates of current psychiatric disorders than noncravers. Even after adjustment for other psychiatric disorders including AUD, cravers had significantly higher odds of any substance use disorder (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 9.01), any mood disorder (AOR, 1.78), any anxiety disorder (AOR, 1.86), and any personality disorder (AOR, 1.92) than noncravers. Interestingly, cravers without AUD had even higher rates of any anxiety disorder and any personality disorder than noncravers with AUD.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Alcohol craving is associated with a higher prevalence of various psychiatric disorders. These findings suggest that alcohol craving may be related to transdiagnostic features that are present across various psychiatric disorders. (Am J Addict 2021;30:34-42).

Concurrent validity of the alcohol purchase task in relation to alcohol involvement: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol demand, as measured by an alcohol purchase task (APT), provides a multidimensional assessment of the relative reinforcing efficacy of alcohol. The objective of this meta-analysis is to critically appraise the existing literature on the concurrent validity of the APT by meta-analysing the cross-sectional relationships between indices of the APT (ie, breakpoint, O_max, P_max, elasticity and intensity) and alcohol-related measures. It also aims to examine methodological procedures used to obtain APT indices and individual variables as potential moderators on the assessed estimations.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A comprehensive literature search conducted from inception to April 2020 will be conducted in the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Scopus databases. Two authors will independently screen and extract data from articles using a predefined protocol search and extraction forms. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion with two additional reviewers. All results will be tabulated, and a random-effect meta-analysis will be conducted. Participants' sex, number of prices and APT methodological procedures will be examined as potential moderators on the observed effect sizes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Results of this meta-analysis will characterise the concurrent validity of the APT in the existing literature. Further, the results are anticipated to provide evidence on which index (or indices) is most robustly associated with alcohol use and severity. Ethics approval was not required for this study and the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019137512.

Behavioral economics and coping-related drinking motives in trauma exposed drinkers: Implications for the self-medication hypothesis

Behavioral economic theory can help researchers understand complex behavior by considering the availability and economic value associated with an individual's choices. This study explored how behavioral economic constructs relate to alcohol consumption and alcohol problems in a sample of trauma-exposed young adults. We further explored whether these behavioral economic constructs explained unique variance in alcohol outcomes beyond coping-related drinking motives. Participants were 91 trauma-exposed young adults who reported recent alcohol consumption (M_age = 26.53, female = 36.26%, non-White = 41.75%). Participants were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk. Questionnaires measured alcohol consumption, problems, and motives for use, as well as alcohol demand, delay discounting, future orientation, and access to environmental reward. Future orientation (ΔR2 = .05, p = .03) and delay discounting (ΔR2 = .04, p = .05) explained unique variance in alcohol problems after controlling for coping-related drinking motives. Further, alcohol demand indices (ΔR2s = .04-.10, ps = .00-.05) explained unique variance in alcohol consumption after controlling for coping-related drinking. Both coping motives and behavioral economic variables contribute to alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences among trauma-exposed young adults. Findings suggest that, beyond coping motives, behavioral economics may play a meaningful role in understanding alcohol misuse. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Temporal precedence of self-regulation over depression and alcohol problems: Support for a model of self-regulatory failure

Alcohol use is highly comorbid with depression, especially among college students, whose rates of both phenomena are higher than in the general population. The self-medication hypothesis (i.e., alcohol use is negatively reinforced via the alleviation of negative affect) has dominated explanatory models of comorbidity. However, self-regulation has also demonstrated cross-sectional relationships with both depression and alcohol problems and may contribute to the development of alternative comorbidity models. Self-regulation introduces three alternative models that can be tested empirically: (a) a depressed regulation model, (b) a central nervous system depressant model, and (c) a self-regulatory failure model. The purpose of this study was to test the utility of these models (in addition to the self-medication hypothesis) by examining the temporal precedence in the relations between self-regulation, depressive symptoms, and alcohol problems among heavy-drinking college students (N = 393) over 5 assessment points (baseline, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and 16 months) using an autoregressive cross-lagged model. Lower self-regulation, and higher alcohol problems and depressive symptoms, prospectively predicted higher depressive symptoms. Higher alcohol problems and lower self-regulation prospectively predicted higher alcohol problems. Only self-regulation prospectively predicted self-regulation. These results were consistent across multiple time points. Findings are consistent with a self-regulatory failure model of depressive symptoms and alcohol problems. Therefore, self-regulation may be an important etiological variable and potential intervention target to reduce both alcohol problems and depressive symptoms among college students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Applying behavioral economic theory to problematic Internet use: An initial investigation

The widespread availability of the Internet has had profound social, educational, and economic benefits. Yet, for some, Internet use can become compulsive and problematic. The current study seeks to apply a behavioral economic framework to Internet use, testing the hypothesis that, similar to other addictive behaviors, problematic Internet use is a reinforcer pathology, reflecting an overvaluation of an immediately acquirable reward relative to prosocial and delayed rewards. Data were collected through Amazon's Mechanical Turk data collection platform. A total of 256 adults (Mage = 27.87, SD = 4.79; 58.2% White, 23% Asian; 65.2% had an associate degree or greater) completed the survey. Measures of delay discounting, consideration of future consequences, Internet demand, and alternative reinforcement all contributed unique variance in predicting both problematic Internet use and Internet craving. In aggregate models controlling for all significant predictors, alternative reinforcement and future valuation variables contributed unique variance. Individuals with elevated demand and discounting were at greatest risk for problematic Internet use. Consistent with behavioral economic research among substance abusing samples, individuals engaging in heavy Internet use report elevated motivation for the target behavior coupled with diminished motivation for other potentially rewarding activities, especially those associated with delayed reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Risk-Taking Propensity, Affect, and Alcohol Craving in Adolescents' Daily Lives

Background: Alcohol craving is common among adolescents, stronger among those with more alcohol-related problems, and predicts drinking levels in their daily lives. Yet, the conditions that predict momentary changes in craving in real time among adolescents remain unclear. Objectives: This study examined the interactive effects of momentary risk-taking propensity and affect on adolescents' alcohol craving by leveraging ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods. Methods: Participants were 29 adolescents ages 15-19 years (55% female; 69% White; 10% Black; 17% Hispanic); 45% met criteria for alcohol dependence. Following a laboratory session that captured self-report and behavioral assessments, including the well-established Balloon Analog Risk Task (BART), participants completed multiple daily assessments of alcohol craving, positive and negative affect, and risk propensity for approximately one week. Momentary risk propensity was captured in real-world settings via an EMA behavioral task ("Balloon Game"). Results: Mixed-effects models with EMA reports (Level 1) nested within participants (Level 2) revealed the majority (74%) of variability in "Balloon Game" performance was due to within-person, momentary, fluctuations. Greater momentary positive affect predicted increased alcohol craving, but only when participants exhibited heightened risk-taking propensity. Negative affect did not influence the relation between momentary risk-taking and craving. Conclusions/Importance: Momentary fluctuations in positive affect predicted acute increases in craving but only in moments when adolescents demonstrated higher levels of risk-taking propensity, as captured with an EMA-delivered behavioral task. Momentary risk-taking assessments offer new avenues to substantiate dominant theories on the driving mechanisms of craving and alcohol use among adolescents.

Evaluating Behavioral Economic Models of Heavy Drinking Among College Students

BACKGROUND

Heavy drinking among college students is a significant public health concern that can lead to profound social and health consequences, including alcohol use disorder. Behavioral economics posits that low future orientation and high valuation of alcohol (alcohol demand) combined with deficits in alternative reinforcement increase the likelihood of alcohol misuse. Despite this, no study has examined the incremental utility of all 3 variables simultaneously in a comprehensive model.

METHODS

This study uses structural equation modeling to test the associations between behavioral economic variables-alcohol demand (latent), future orientation (measured with a delay discounting task and the Consideration of Future Consequences [CFC] scale), and proportionate substance-related reinforcement-and alcohol consumption and problems among 393 heavy drinking college students. Two models are tested as follows: (i) an iteration of the reinforcer pathology model that includes an interaction between future orientation and alcohol demand; and (ii) an alternative model evaluating the interconnectedness of behavioral economic variables in predicting problematic alcohol use.

RESULTS

The interaction effects in Model 1 were nonsignificant. Model 2 suggests that greater alcohol demand and proportionate substance-related reinforcement are associated with greater alcohol consumption and problems. Furthermore, CFC was associated with alcohol-related problems and lower proportionate substance-related reinforcement but was not significantly associated with alcohol consumption or alcohol demand. Finally, greater proportionate substance-related reinforcement was associated with greater alcohol demand.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the validity of the behavioral economic reinforcer pathology model as applied to young adult heavy drinking.

Access to environmental reward mediates the relation between posttraumatic stress symptoms and alcohol problems and craving

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) show significant comorbidity with alcohol use, but little is known about the mechanisms that might account for this comorbidity. Deficits in reward functioning have long been implicated in alcohol misuse and more recently in PTS reactions, but no study has examined whether reward deprivation may serve as a transdiagnostic risk factor for comorbid PTS-alcohol misuse. The current cross-sectional study sought to test the behavioral economic hypothesis that reward deprivation would be related to both PTS symptoms and alcohol problems, and would mediate the relation between PTS symptoms and alcohol problems in college students. We recruited a diverse sample of urban college students (N = 203, Mage = 21.5 years, SD = 5.5; 79.5% female; 56.8% White, 28.1% Black, .9% Asian, 9.8% Multiracial) who endorsed both alcohol use and PTS symptoms. Reward deprivation (lack of access to, and ability to, experience reward) was related to alcohol problems, and a lack of access to reward was related to PTS symptoms. Furthermore, reward access mediated the relation between PTS symptoms and alcohol problems and craving, after controlling for alcohol use, age, gender, and race. These data provide preliminary support for behavioral economic models of alcohol comorbidity and suggest that treatments for combined PTS and alcohol misuse should attempt to reduce barriers to accessing natural rewards. (PsycINFO Database Record

A Behavioral Economic Analysis of Marijuana and Other Drug Use Among Heavy Drinking Young Adults

Objective

Behavioral economic models predict that deficits in substance-free reward and future time orientation are associated with greater drug involvement, but this hypothesis has not been systematically investigated among young adult heavy drinkers. This study evaluated the association between drug use levels (heavy drinking (HD) only, HD + marijuana use, and HD + polysubstance use) and substance-free activity engagement, future orientation, and reward deprivation (comprised of reward experience and environmental suppressors of reward) among heavy drinkers.

Method

Participants were 358 college students who reported two or more past-month heavy drinking episodes (5/4 or more drinks in one occasion for a man/woman). The sample was 60% women, 79% Caucasian, and the average age was 18.76 (SD = 1.07) years. Participants completed measures of alcohol and drug use, weekly time allocation to various activities, future time orientation, and reward deprivation.

Results

Overall, any drug use was associated with less time spent engaged in academics and exercise, and lower future time orientation compared to HD only. Any drug use was associated with reward deprivation and HD + polysubstance use was associated with lower reward experience and environmental suppressors.

Conclusion

Drug use among heavy drinkers is associated with lower academic engagement and exercise, future orientation, and reward deprivation. These results provide support for behavioral economic models of drug abuse and suggest that prevention approaches should attempt to increase future orientation and availability of drug-free reward.

Protective behavioral strategies mediate the relationship between behavioral economic risk factors and alcohol-related problems

Behavioral economic measures of alcohol reward value and future orientation have received support as predictors of alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and response to intervention. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have been shown to be a significant mediator between a variety of risk factors and alcohol-related problems. The current article examines direct and mediating associations between measures of alcohol reward value (proportionate substance-related activity participation and enjoyment) and future orientation, use of PBS, and alcohol-related problems. Participants were 393 undergraduates (39.2% male, 78.9% Caucasian) who reported at least 2 past-month binge drinking episodes (5 and 4 drinks for men and women, respectively). This study is a secondary analysis of data collected previously as part of a brief intervention study. Alcohol reward value and future orientation were significantly associated with both protective behavioral strategies and alcohol problems. PBS was a significant partial mediator between these variables and alcohol-related problems after controlling for gender, level of alcohol consumption, and sensation seeking. This study provides support for the hypothesis that high levels of reinforcement from alcohol relative to alternatives and low consideration of the future may lead to patterns of dysregulated drinking with few harm-reduction strategies that increase risk for alcohol problems. In addition to directly targeting PBS, brief alcohol interventions for college students should attempt to increase future orientation and substance-free activities. (PsycINFO Database Record