Alcohol Myopia Revisited: Clarifying Aggression and Other Acts of Disinhibition Through a Distorted Lens

Patterns of substance-involved intimate partner violence perpetration: Findings from a daily diary study

BACKGROUND

Previous work has linked substance use to intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, but the extent to which patterns of substance use influence patterns of IPV perpetration is unclear.

METHODS

Women (N = 216, Mage = 40.7 years [SD = 13.1], 34.7 % Black, 26.9 % White) experiencing physical or repeated psychological IPV were recruited from the community and completed daily app-based surveys for 90 days, in which they reported their partner's use of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs, and their partner's psychological, physical, and sexual IPV perpetration.

RESULTS

Partner's IPV perpetration was significantly more likely on days when partners used (versus did not use) any substances (OR = 2.25, 95 %CI [1.89, 2.67]). Substance use patterns (i.e., alcohol or cannabis use alone, alcohol-cannabis co-use, other drug use) varied with respect to whether they differentiated days with (versus without) IPV, psychological IPV alone, physical IPV without sexual IPV (with or without psychological IPV), and sexual IPV (with or without physical and psychological IPV). In large part, substance use patterns that included alcohol tended to increase the odds of same-day IPV perpetration. Specifically, alcohol use alone increased the odds of same-day psychological and physical IPV perpetration, and alcohol-cannabis co-use increased the odds of same-day physical and sexual IPV perpetration. Use of other drugs increased the odds of same-day sexual IPV perpetration.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest particular patterns of substance use increased the risk of IPV perpetration. These patterns may represent higher-risk events that could be targeted by just-in-time interventions to reduce IPV, and support efforts targeting alcohol use in batterer invention programming.

Alcohol's acute effects on emotion recognition and empathy in heavy-drinking young adults

Alcohol intoxication can lead to both positive and negative social outcomes, and recent research suggests that alcohol-induced changes in emotion recognition and empathy may underlie these consequences. However, methodological limitations of prior studies make drawing firm conclusions difficult. This study addresses some of these limitations by investigating the acute effects of alcohol on emotion recognition and empathy in a large sample of young adults, using an intoxicating alcohol dose and more ecologically valid tasks. Participants (N = 156, mean age = 22.51 ± 2.16, 31.41% female, 72.44% White) were randomly assigned to groups of 3 unacquainted persons; each group was randomly assigned to drink an alcoholic or placebo beverage together. Participants then completed measures of emotion recognition and empathy. Alcohol (vs. placebo) participants showed impaired recognition of anger (B = -0.18, p < 0.01) but no other specific emotions. They additionally reported higher affective empathy (i.e., how well participants related to another participant) in response to direct interactions with other participants (B = 0.31, p < 0.05). Alcohol and placebo participants did not differ on perceived empathy assessed by a traditional third-person empathy task using static images. These effects held when controlling for covariates. Findings suggest alcohol worsens anger recognition and increases perceptions of relating to another. Results also highlight the importance of considering the nature and reliability of social cognition assessments when examining alcohol intoxication effects.

Revisiting the alcohol-aggression link: The impact of alcohol consumption patterns

Laboratory studies have repeatedly reported a link between alcohol and aggression, yet many rely on single-dose administration methods and overlook variations in alcohol consumption patterns. The present study investigates the effects of alcohol on aggressive behavior using a double-blind, placebo-controlled cumulative drinking administration approach that mirrors the natural drinking behaviors often observed in pubs within a laboratory setting. This study also pioneers the examination of how alcohol consumption patterns (light or heavy) moderate the relationship between precise Breath Alcohol Concentration (BrAC) levels and extreme aggressive behavior. Seventy-five individuals who drink alcohol lightly (N=38) and heavily (N=37) were randomly assigned to alcohol (N=33) or placebo (N=42) conditions. Participants drank four drinks successively. Taylor's aggression paradigm was completed twenty minutes after each drink. Multilevel modeling was applied to analyze the effects of precise BrAC and account for within-person variability. Alcohol showed a dose-dependent effect on aggression; as alcohol levels rose, so did aggression (p<.001). Alcohol consumption pattern moderated the effect of cumulative BrAC on aggression, such that the effect was more substantial for as compared with individuals who drink lightly (p=.03). The current study highlights the moderating role of alcohol consumption pattern in the association between precise BrAC levels and extreme aggression, offering insights into individual differences in susceptibility to alcohol-induced aggression, and supporting the I3 meta-theory (Finkel, 2014). The Findings underscore the importance of investigating the interplay between acute and chronic alcohol use on behavior, challenging conventional thresholds for hazardous drinking classification. Implications for future studies, legislators, and policymakers are discussed.

Sexual alcohol expectancies moderate the relation between alcohol use and sexual behavior among men who have sex with men

BACKGROUND

HIV transmission remains a significant health concern for men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States. Heavy episodic drinking (HED) is related to increased rates of condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among MSM, though evidence suggests that this association may vary by individual difference factors. The present secondary analysis tested whether sexual alcohol expectancies (SAEs) moderate the associations between frequency of HED and anal intercourse (AI) with and without a condom among moderate-to-heavy drinking HIV- MSM.

METHODS

Two hundred and forty-eight moderate-to-heavy drinking MSM completed self-report questionnaires including the Sexual Behavior Questionnaire, the Modified Daily Drinking Questionnaire, and the Sexual Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Negative binomial regressions indicated that SAEs moderated the association between frequency of HED and AI with a condom, but not between the frequency of HED and condomless AI (CAI).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that stronger SAEs play a role in alcohol-related sexual behavior among MSM, but do not provide evidence that SAEs are associated with increased risk for HIV transmission through CAI.

The Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression in the Context of Acute Intoxication and State Emotion Regulation

Understanding the mechanisms underlying sexual aggression perpetration is critical for the development of targeted, evidence-based prevention. The current study evaluates the effects of state emotion regulation (ER), acute alcohol intoxication, and Confluence Model constructs on sexual aggression perpetration intentions. Single, male social drinkers, aged 21-30 years, with a history of sexual risk-taking (N = 90) were randomly assigned to an alcohol (BrAC = 0.1%) or sober control condition and completed measures of hypothetical sexual aggression intentions, state ER, and Confluence Model constructs. Logistic regression demonstrated men high in hostile masculinity expressed significantly greater sexual aggression intentions. In addition, men with poor state ER endorsed significantly greater sexual aggression intentions, although this relationship only held for the men in the sober condition. Results suggest that interventions targeting state ER may be beneficial to sexual aggression perpetration prevention programming.

A longitudinal investigation of PTSD symptoms, hazardous drinking, and relationship satisfaction in college student dating relationships

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and hazardous drinking have been linked to lower relationship satisfaction; however, few studies have evaluated these associations over time in a college sample. The current study aimed to examine within-person and between-person longitudinal main and interactive effects of self-reported PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking on relationship satisfaction in a college sample. We further examined whether individual PTSD symptom clusters (i.e., re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal, and emotional numbing) uniquely predicted relationship satisfaction. College students in current dating relationships (N = 307; 71% cisgender women) completed online self-report measures assessing relationship satisfaction, PTSD symptoms, and hazardous alcohol use on four occasions across 12 months. Multilevel models revealed that students with more severe PTSD symptoms had lower relationship satisfaction on average (i.e., at the between-person level). Additionally, higher hazardous drinking at the within-person and between-person levels was associated with lower relationship satisfaction. When examining specific PTSD symptom clusters, results indicated only emotional numbing symptoms were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction at the between-person and within-person level after controlling for other PTSD symptom clusters. Collectively, these results underscore the impact of within- and between-person individual differences in PTSD symptoms and hazardous drinking on romantic relationships in college student populations.

Examining the role of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in intimate partner violence among couples with alcohol use disorder

Separate literatures indicate that both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are robust risk factors for using intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite the strength of these relative literatures, and the common co-occurrence of AUD and PTSD, their combined effects on IPV have rarely been examined. This study begins to address this gap by exploring the moderating effects of provisional PTSD diagnosis on the relation between heavy alcohol consumption and physical IPV using a multilevel modeling approach. Participants were adult romantic couples (N = 100) with current AUD and a history of physical IPV in their relationship. Results from the between-couple comparison indicate that couples who reported more heavy drinking days also experienced more physical IPV when at least one partner had probable PTSD. However, the within-couple comparison indicated that among partners without a provisional PTSD diagnosis, those with fewer heavy drinking days compared to their partner also reported more physical IPV perpetration. These preliminary and exploratory findings require replication and extension but provide new and important information regarding the complex intersection of heavy drinking, PTSD, and IPV among couples with AUD.

Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Sexual Minority Young Adults: Associations With Alcohol Use, PTSD Symptoms, Internalized Homophobia, and Heterosexist Discrimination

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other sexual minority (LGBQ+) young adults report similar or higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration than their heterosexual peers. Elevated IPV risk among LGBQ+ young adults may be attributable to experiencing heterosexist discrimination and internalized homophobia. In addition, LGBQ+ people report disproportionate posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration in dating relationships. Thus, this study explored which combinations of IPV risk factors (i.e., experiencing heterosexist discrimination, internalized homophobia, PTSD symptoms, alcohol use) related to forms of IPV perpetration, inclusive of psychological, physical, and sexual forms, in a sample of 342 LGBQ+ young adults. Internalized homophobia was related to psychological IPV perpetration at high and medium levels of PTSD symptoms and only high levels of alcohol use. PTSD symptoms and alcohol use interacted to predict psychological IPV perpetration; and PTSD symptoms related to increased psychological IPV perpetration at high and medium, but not low, alcohol use levels. Alcohol use was positively related to physical IPV perpetration. No other risk factors or interactions were significantly related to physical or sexual IPV perpetration. Results were consistent with prior findings that linked internalized homophobia, alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms to IPV perpetration and highlight the interacting nature of these IPV perpetration risk factors. Comprehensive IPV interventions with LGBQ+ young adults should evaluate the impact of simultaneously targeting these multiple IPV risk factors considering their interacting contributions to IPV perpetration risk. More research is needed to examine the temporal relations between minority stress, PTSD symptoms, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of RealConsent2.0: a web-based intervention to promote prosocial alcohol-involved bystander behavior in young men

BACKGROUND

Sexual violence (SV) is a significant, global public health problem, particularly among young adults. Promising interventions exist, including prosocial bystander intervention programs that train bystanders to intervene in situations at-risk for SV. However, these programs suffer from critical weaknesses: (1) they do not address the proximal effect of alcohol use on bystander decision-making and (2) they rely on self-report measures to evaluate outcomes. To overcome these limitations, we integrate new content specific to alcohol use within the context of prosocial bystander intervention into an existing, evidence-based program, RealConsent1.0. The resulting program, RealConsent2.0, aims to facilitate bystander behavior among sober and intoxicated bystanders and uses a virtual reality (VR) environment to assess bystander behavior in the context of acute alcohol use.

METHODS

This protocol paper presents the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which we evaluate RealConsent2.0 for efficacy in increasing alcohol- and non-alcohol-involved bystander behavior compared to RealConsent1.0 or to an attention-control program ("Taking Charge"). The RCT is being implemented in Atlanta, GA, and Lincoln, NE. Participants will be 605, healthy men aged 21-25 years recruited through social media, community-based flyers, and university email lists. Eligible participants who provide informed consent and complete the baseline survey, which includes self-reported bystander behavior, are then randomized to one of six conditions: RealConsent2.0/alcohol, RealConsent2.0/placebo, RealConsent1.0/alcohol, RealConsent1.0/placebo, Taking Charge/alcohol, or Taking Charge/placebo. After completing their assigned program, participants complete a laboratory session in which they consume an alcohol (target BrAC: .08%) or placebo beverage and then engage in the Bystanders in Sexual Assault Virtual Environments (BSAVE), a virtual house party comprising situations in which participants have opportunities to intervene. Self-reported bystander behavior across alcohol and non-alcohol contexts is also assessed at 6- and 12-months post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include attitudes toward, outcome expectancies for, and self-efficacy for bystander behavior via self-report.

DISCUSSION

RealConsent2.0 is the first web-based intervention for young men that encourages and teaches skills to engage in prosocial bystander behavior to prevent SV while intoxicated. This is also the first study to assess the proximal effect of alcohol on bystander behavior via a VR environment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04912492. Registered on 05 February 2021.

Modeling state- and trait-level associations between aggression, somatic symptoms, substance use, and distress tolerance

The current study examined the state- and trait-level associations of psychological and physical aggression to somatic symptoms, and alcohol and drug use and tested the influence of distress tolerance on these associations, while controlling for stress, sex, and minority status. A naturalistic observation was used to collect data with a sample of 245 college students at three time points with 2 weeks apart. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel models were used to disaggregate within-person effects (autoregressive and cross-lagged effects) from the between-person (latent trait-level) associations. The findings revealed that there were autoregressive effects of psychological aggression between Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) and of physical aggression between T1 and T2. There was a bidirectional association between psychological aggression and somatic symptoms at T2 and Time 3 (T3), in which T2 psychological aggression predicted T3 somatic symptoms and verse vera. T1 drug use predicted T2 physical aggression, which in turn predicted T3 somatic symptoms, indicating physical aggression being a mediator between earlier drug use and later somatic symptoms. Distress tolerance was negatively associated with psychological aggression and somatic symptoms, respectively, and such an influence did not differ across time occasions. The findings indicated the importance of incorporating physical health in the prevention and intervention of psychological aggression. Clinicians may also consider including psychological aggression in the screening of somatic symptoms or physical health. Empirical-supported therapy components for enhancing distress tolerance may help mitigate psychological aggression and somatic symptoms.

Alcohol and morality: one alcoholic drink is enough to make people declare to harm others and behave impurely

We aimed to understand if alcohol intoxication affects the willingness to violate moral foundations (care, fairness, authority, loyalty, and purity). We conducted a laboratory study (N = 387) with three randomized groups: alcohol intoxication, placebo, and control, measuring the sacralization of moral foundations via the Moral Foundations Sacredness Scale. The study showed intoxicated participants sacralized moral foundations of care and purity more often than participants from control and placebo groups. It means participants declared more willing to physically harm other people and animals and behave impurely, e.g., doing deviant sexual behaviors or selling their souls. No differences related to fairness, authority, and loyalty were found. Our study helps to understand the decision processes underlying immoral behaviors, including crimes. We showed that even one drink makes people change their judgments about what is right and wrong (in the cases of harmful and impure behaviors), and because this kind of judgment precedes immoral behaviors, our results may help explain why some people under the influence of alcohol break the rules by doing things which they would never do when sober.

Impulsivity and Reactive-Proactive Aggression as Mechanisms of Alcohol-Related Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration among Romantic Partners

Background: Sexual intimate partner violence (S-IPV) commonly occurs within the contexts of committed romantic relationshops. Prior research has demonstrated the existence of a robust link between alcohol use and S-IPV. Despite this, few research studies have explored the etiological underpinnings of alcohol-related S-IPV perpetration, specifically. The present study examines the role of several key factors (i.e., problematic drinking, negative and positive urgency, proactive and reactive aggression) on S-IPV perpetration. Methods: Participants were 337 heavy drinking men and women in intimate relatinships who reported perpetrating some form of IPV toward their current partner within the past-year. A moderated-mediation model was used to determine how the key study variables interacted to predict S-IPV perpetration. Results: Results indicated that problematic drinking was positively correlated with both negative urgency and positive uregency. Findings also revealed that negative urgency, positive urgency, proactive aggression, and reactive aggression were all positively related to S-IPV perpetration. The indirect relationship between problematic drinking and S-IPV perpetration was mediated by positive urgency. Additionally, a significant main effect of proactive aggression on S-IPV perpetration was also detected. Conclusions: These findings suggest that impulsivity, specifically positive urgency, and proactive aggression may be under-appreciated constructs within the existing sexual aggression literature, and future research examining these variables as mechanisms explaining the association between the alcohol and S-IPV is warranted.

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks and aggressive behaviors in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Consuming alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED) is a high-risk drinking practice. This systematic review examines how AmED use contributes to aggression (physical and sexual), in what role(s) (perpetrator and/or victim), in adolescents and young adult drinkers (age 25 and younger).

METHODS

Computer assisted search identified 844 studies conducted prior to March 2023; of them 17 met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

AmED use was significantly associated with aggressive behaviors. Between-subject studies suggests that AmED consumers have higher rates of perpetration (physical fights, bullying) and victimization compared to peers who only drink alcohol; however, within-subject studies of AmED users find no difference in physical aggression by drinking event (AmED vs. occasions where consumer drinks alcohol only). Similarly, AmED use was a risk factor for sexually aggressive behaviors (e.g., unwanted contact) and victimization.

CONCLUSIONS

AmED use is a significant risk factor both victimization and perpetration of violent acts. Differences in within- versus between-study findings suggests that risk is associated with use of AmED, and not event level differences in drinking occasions among AmED users. Findings highlight the relative paucity of studies examining victimization and sexual violence and the need for future studies to incorporate more diverse samples and methodologies to better understand patterns of AmED use, perpetration, and victimization.

Alcohol, gender, and violence: Factors influencing blame for partner aggression

Alcohol use has been associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) and reduced perpetrator blameworthiness, but this finding is not universal. Researchers examining alcohol and IPV-related blame often utilize vignettes depicting perpetrators who are sober and compare this to perpetrators depicted as more or less intoxicated. In this study, participants read one of three vignettes depicting male-to-female physical IPV. We compared participants' blame attributions across three conditions: perpetrator sober, perpetrator intoxicated-infrequent drinker, and perpetrator intoxicated-frequent drinker. Alcohol did not mitigate perpetrator blameworthiness for the assault; however, only the intoxicated-frequent drinker was rated as more blameworthy for his violence than the sober perpetrator. Participants also reported their own IPV perpetration, drinking behaviors, and gender role beliefs. Traditional gender role beliefs and a history of IPV perpetration were associated with shifting some of the blame onto the victim, and this was true for both men and women, especially when the perpetrator was described as a frequent drinker. Researchers should consider whether their alcohol vignettes might depict a behavior as reflecting the situation or the drinker's character, as this may impact their results. Furthermore, different observer characteristics may differentially predict blame attribution.

The role of effortful control in mitigating negative consequences associated with emerging adult drinking

BACKGROUND

Identifying factors that protect against alcohol-related negative consequences associated with emerging adult drinking is a critical public health issue. It has been proposed that high levels of self-regulation moderate risks associated with drinking, decreasing alcohol-related negative consequences. Past research testing this possibility is limited by a lack of advanced methodology for testing moderation and failure to consider facets of self-regulation. This study addressed these limitations.

METHODS

Three hundred fifty-four community emerging adults (56% female; predominantly non-Hispanic Caucasian (83%) or African American (9%)) were assessed annually for 3 years. Moderational hypotheses were tested using multilevel models and the Johnson-Neyman technique was used to examine simple slopes. Data were organized such that repeated measures (level 1) were nested within participants (level 2) to test cross-sectional associations. Self-regulation was operationalized as effortful control and its facets (attentional, inhibitory, and activation control).

RESULTS

We found evidence of moderation. The association between alcohol use during a heavy drinking week and consequences weakened as effortful control increased. This pattern was supported for two facets (attentional and activation control), but not for inhibitory control. Regions of significance results revealed that this protective effect was only evident at very high levels of self-regulation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide some evidence that very high levels of attentional and activation control protect against alcohol-related negative consequences associated with drinking. Emerging adults who are very high in attentional and activation control are likely better able to control their attention and engage in goal-directed behavior, like leaving a party at a reasonable hour, or attending school and/or work when experiencing the punishing effects of a hangover. Results emphasize the importance of distinguishing facets of self-regulation when testing self-regulation models.

Threat effects on attention networks in individuals with a history of externalizing behaviors

Research identifying the biobehavioral processes that link threat exposure to cognitive alterations can inform treatments designed to reduce perpetration of stress-induced aggression. The present study attempted to specify the effects of relatively predictable versus unpredictable threat on two attention networks, attentional alerting and executive control. In a sample of adults (n = 74, 35 % identifying as women, Mage = 32.85) with high rates of externalizing behaviors (e.g., substance use, criminal/legal system involvement, aggressivity), we measured event-related brain activity during an attention network test that manipulated cognitive systems activation under relatively unpredictable and predictable threat conditions. Results showed that threat exposure alters attentional alerting and executive control. The predictable threat condition, relative to unpredictable threat, increased visual alerting (N1 amplitude to alert vs. no alert cue conditions) and decreased attention to the task (P3 amplitude to subsequent task-relevant flankers, but these effects did not survive adjusting for multiple tests. In contrast, overall threat and unpredictable threat conditions were associated with faster response time to alert cue (versus no cue) and poorer conflict processing, operationalized as flanker N2 reductions and slower response time to incongruent (versus congruent) flanker trials. These results expand what is known about threat-related modulation of cognition in a sample of individuals with histories of externalizing behaviors.

Elixir of love or venom of violence: When does a drinking event result in couple intimacy or couple conflict?

The short-term consequences of drinking events may be positive or negative. Most studies have considered only one outcome, but people may experience different alcohol outcomes on different occasions, depending on the circumstances. The present study sought to identify predictors of drinking events that resulted in couple intimacy, conflict, or neither outcome using existing data from a 30-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study. Participants were a community sample of partnered, moderately drinking adults with a recent history of verbal or physical partner aggression (N = 249 couples). They provided reports of drinking events, intimacy and conflict events, and ratings of relationship harmony and discord in three randomly signaled reports each day. Mixed-effects multinomial analyses were used to compare predictors of drinking events that, within three hours, resulted in intimacy, conflict, or neither outcome. Consistent with previous research, characteristics of the drinker (individual tendencies to experience intimacy or conflict) and characteristics of the drinking event (alcohol quantity, drinking companions) both predicted drinking outcomes. Moreover, the pre-drinking relationship context predicted post-drinking relationship outcomes, consistent with the idea that alcohol focuses attention on salient contextual cues. Specifically, greater pre-drinking relationship harmony predicted greater likelihood of experiencing intimacy after drinking, whereas greater pre-drinking relationship discord predicted greater likelihood of experiencing conflict after drinking. In summary, characteristics of the drinker, the drinking event, and the pre-drinking relationship context contribute to the likelihood that a given drinking event will have short-term positive or negative relationship outcomes.

What Stops Unwanted Sexual and Social Advances Made by Heavy Drinking College Men?

Although rates of sexual aggression are high among college men who engage in heavy drinking, little is known regarding how often heavy drinking college men initiate unwanted sexual advances towards women that could lead to a potential sexual assault or the reasons why these advances stop or proceed. The present study describes heavy drinking college men's (N = 210) initiation of unwanted sexual and social advances towards women, as well as outcomes of these interactions, including how often these behaviors continue, and men's perception of what stopped the behavior over a 3-month period. Men indicated whether they were in a situation where a sexual partner noted that she does not want sexual activity to proceed further, initiated unwanted sexual contact, initiated unwanted sexual intercourse, attempted to give a woman alcohol when she did not appear to want to drink, or attempted to take a woman to an isolated location when she did not appear to want to go. These unwanted sexual and social advances most often stopped because of women's verbal resistance (i.e., saying "stop" or "no"), or because men engaged in a discussion regarding the women's limits or choices. Given that none of the unwanted sexual or social advances stopped because of bystander intervention, the present study highlights the importance of raising awareness of the effectiveness of women's resistance tactics and continuing to train bystanders to notice and take action to address risky situations.

Childhood Maltreatment and Use of Aggression among Veterans with Co-occurring PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder: The Mediating Role of Hostile Cognitions

History of childhood maltreatment is common among military veterans, particularly those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Childhood maltreatment is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, including use of aggression during adulthood. Prior research has identified maladaptive cognitions as a key mediating variable in the association between early life trauma and aggression. Given the high rates of comorbid PTSD and AUD among veterans and the increased risk of aggression when these conditions co-occur, it is critical to examine malleable intervention targets, such as maladaptive cognitions, for this population. The current secondary analyses examined the mediating role of hostile cognitions on the associations between childhood maltreatment and adulthood aggression in a sample of dually diagnosed veterans. Participants were veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD (N = 73) who were enrolled in a larger randomized controlled laboratory trial. Participants completed self-report measures of childhood maltreatment, hostile cognitions, and aggressive behavior. Three models were tested to examine the mediating effect of hostility on the associations between childhood maltreatment, abuse, and neglect on aggression. Results indicated that hostility fully mediated the effect of maltreatment on aggression and partially mediated the effect of childhood abuse on aggression. The effect of childhood neglect on aggression was nonsignificant. Hostile cognitions may be a critical intervention target for veterans with co-occurring PTSD and AUD and history of childhood maltreatment, particularly for those who have experienced higher levels of childhood abuse.

A strong alcoholic drink does not influence self-assessments of the big five personality traits

cAlohol affects how people think, feel, and behave, and how they perceive the physical and social world around them. But does alcohol also influence how people perceive themselves? Past work points to a number of possibilities, suggesting intoxication could lead to positive biases, to negative biases, or have no effects on self-assessments at all. Here we tested whether alcoholic intoxication affects self-assessments of personality within the Big Five personality framework. We hypothesized that intoxicated participants would see themselves more positively than non-intoxicated individuals would. We conducted a preregistered laboratory experiment on participants divided into three groups: alcohol intoxication (n = 106), placebo (n = 114), and control conditions (n = 109). Contrary to predictions, we found no differences in self-assessments of personality across conditions. Findings point to the possibility that self-assessments of personality may be too stable to be affected by the momentary changes in thoughts and feelings caused by alcoholic intoxication.

Correlates of Bystander Intervention Among Heavy Drinking College Men

The present study utilized survey assessments to examine correlates of bystander intervention intentions among heavy drinking college men (N = 210). Intentions to engage in bystander intervention were associated with fewer heavy drinking days, lower alcohol-related consequences, greater use of strategies to limit drinking, and lower endorsement of alcohol expectancies. A range of constructs commonly associated with perpetration of sexual aggression demonstrated a negative association with intentions to engage in bystander intervention. Multivariate analyses revealed that greater use of strategies to limit drinking and lower pornography use emerged as predictors of intentions to engage in bystander intervention.

Longitudinal effect of self-control on reactive-proactive aggression: Mediating roles of hostile rumination and moral disengagement

Self-control is a well-known inhibitor of aggression, but the effect of self-control on different kinds of aggression (such as reactive-proactive aggression) and the underlying mediating mechanisms of these effects are unclear. We developed a mediation model to address these issues. A three-wave study was conducted with a sample of 1203 qualifying Chinese undergraduates to test the model. The results showed that self-control at Wave 1 negatively predicted reactive aggression at Wave 3 through mediating effects of hostile rumination and moral disengagement at Wave 2 at the same time, while self-control at Wave 1 negatively predicted proactive aggression at Wave 3 only through moral disengagement at Wave 2. Furthermore, the longitudinal relationship between hostile rumination and moral disengagement is mutual. The current findings support our hypotheses regarding the mediation model of self-control inhibiting reactive-proactive aggression and suggest that moral disengagement should be a common and basic variable to predict most kinds of aggression; further, hostile rumination only has a particular effect on reactive aggression. The present study used motivation theory to explain its mediation model, which develops aggressive theory regarding varied common influencing factors and underlying mediating mechanisms of reactive and proactive aggression.

A social contextual review of the effects of alcohol on emotion

Drinking and drinking problems are complex phenomena. Understanding the etiology of alcohol use disorder requires consideration of biological, psychological, and social processes. It is our view that the last of these dimensions is just beginning to receive adequate scrutiny. In this selective review, we discuss the concept of a biopsychosocial analysis of the effects of alcohol. After briefly addressing biological and psychological research on alcohol's emotional effects, we bid to make a case for the vital role that social processes play in understanding why people drink. The bulk of the paper describes research illustrating the contributions that a social psychological perspective can make to advance understanding of the rewarding effects of alcohol. Overall, studies incorporating social contexts have revealed reliable evidence that alcohol enhances emotional experience in many social environments and have identified socio-contextual variables that moderate responses to alcohol. Further, these studies have broadened the scope of constructs thought to be socially rewarding, including social bonding, relationship functioning, and humor enjoyment. Our analysis concludes by identifying research areas we believe would profit from additional research.

The Proximal Effect of Alcohol on Intimate Partner Violence: Comparing the Antecedents of Intoxicated and Sober Men's Violent Acts

Alcohol use is known to correlate with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, yet little research examines how alcohol influences how the violence unfolds. The current study used sequential analysis to examine descriptions of past violent incidents and explore the behaviors that preceded men's perpetration of IPV. In accordance with the alcohol myopia model of alcohol use, it was hypothesized that intoxicated men would respond violently to a wide range of partner cues, whereas men who were sober would only react violently in response to the most threatening partner cues. Moreover, intoxicated men were expected to demonstrate less inhibition of violence to suppressor cues of the partners' distress as compared to sober men. Participants were 80 couples reporting male-to-female IPV within the past year. Female partners' descriptions of two past violent events were coded and entered into sequential analysis. Antecedents to the men's first violent action were examined. While sober men were likely to react violently to their partner's physical threat and perceived threat, intoxicate men did not. Sober men were less likely to become violent after their partners displayed distress cues, whereas there was no suppressor effect of women's distress for intoxicated men. The precursors of the violence of intoxicated men appears to be indiscriminate and unpredictable. Clinical interventions that rely on behavioral strategies or communication skills training are unlikely to be effective for those who have an unmanaged alcohol use disorder.

Moral disciplining: The cognitive and evolutionary foundations of puritanical morality

Why do many societies moralize apparently harmless pleasures, such as lust, gluttony, alcohol, drugs, and even music and dance? Why do they erect temperance, asceticism, sobriety, modesty, and piety as cardinal moral virtues? According to existing theories, this puritanical morality cannot be reduced to concerns for harm and fairness: It must emerge from cognitive systems that did not evolve for cooperation (e.g., disgust-based "purity" concerns). Here, we argue that, despite appearances, puritanical morality is no exception to the cooperative function of moral cognition. It emerges in response to a key feature of cooperation, namely that cooperation is (ultimately) a long-term strategy, requiring (proximately) the self-control of appetites for immediate gratification. Puritanical moralizations condemn behaviors which, although inherently harmless, are perceived as indirectly facilitating uncooperative behaviors, by impairing the self-control required to refrain from cheating. Drinking, drugs, immodest clothing, and unruly music and dance are condemned as stimulating short-term impulses, thus facilitating uncooperative behaviors (e.g., violence, adultery, free-riding). Overindulgence in harmless bodily pleasures (e.g., masturbation, gluttony) is perceived as making people slave to their urges, thus altering abilities to resist future antisocial temptations. Daily self-discipline, ascetic temperance, and pious ritual observance are perceived as cultivating the self-control required to honor prosocial obligations. We review psychological, historical, and ethnographic evidence supporting this account. We use this theory to explain the fall of puritanism in western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies, and discuss the cultural evolution of puritanical norms. Explaining puritanical norms does not require adding mechanisms unrelated to cooperation in our models of the moral mind.

Association of Cannabis Use and At-Risk Alcohol Use With Intimate Partner Violence in an Urban ED Sample

INTRODUCTION

Urban ED patients have elevated rates of substance use and intimate partner violence. The purpose of this study is to describe the risk profiles for intimate partner violence among urban ED patients who report at-risk alcohol use only, cannabis use only, or both types of substance use.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey data were collected from study participants (N = 1037; 53% female; ages 18-50) following informed consent. We measured participants' past-year at-risk drinking (women/men who had 4+/5+ drinks in a day), cannabis use, psychosocial and demographic characteristics, and past-year physical intimate partner violence (assessed with the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale). We used bivariate analysis to assess whether rates of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization differed by type of substance use behavior. Multivariate logistic regression models were estimated for each intimate partner violence outcome. All analyses were stratified by gender.

RESULTS

Rates of intimate partner violence differed significantly by type of substance use behavior and were highest among those who reported both at-risk drinking and cannabis use. Multivariate analysis showed that women who reported at-risk drinking only, cannabis use only, or both types of substance use had increased odds for intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization compared with women who reported neither type of substance use. Men's at-risk drinking and cannabis use were not associated with elevated odds of intimate partner violence perpetration or victimization.

DISCUSSION

Brief screening of patients' at-risk drinking and cannabis use behaviors may help identify those at greater risk for intimate partner violence and those in need of referral to treatment.

Predictors of Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Men: A Prospective Analysis

Research demonstrates that both peer socialization and underage drinking play a significant role in teen dating violence. However, less is known about the lasting effects of these risk factors on boys' ability to form healthy romantic relationships as they get older. The present study examined whether boys who perceived their peers would respect them more for having sex and those who engaged in past year heavy alcohol use would be more likely to perpetrate sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) in young adulthood compared to boys who did not endorse perceived peer approval for sex or report past year heavy drinking. Analyses were conducted using a sample of boys (n = 1,189) from Waves I and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). A logistic regression was conducted to assess the relationship between perceived peer approval to have sex and heavy alcohol use at Wave I and sexual IPV at Wave III, after adjusting for demographic factors and other correlates of sexual IPV at Wave I, including age, race/ethnicity, sexual initiation in adolescence, parental attachment, annual family income, and neighborhood poverty. Boys who believed they would gain peer respect by having sex and boys who reported getting drunk in the last 12 months, regardless of how often, were significantly more likely to report sexual IPV in young adulthood compared to boys who did not endorse either of these factors. Targeting boys' perceived peer norms regarding sexual activity and heavy alcohol use may therefore be especially important for preventing sexual IPV later in life.

Long-term trends in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use and emerging substance use issues in Aotearoa New Zealand

This narrative review summarises the latest evidence on the causes and consequences of substance use in adolescence and describes long-term trends in adolescent alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use in Aotearoa. Adolescence is a time of rapid brain development when young people are uniquely vulnerable to the risks of substance use. It is a major cause of health and social harm in this age group and can affect adult outcomes and the health of the next generation. Therefore, substance use trends are central to understanding the current and future state of child and youth wellbeing in Aotearoa. Adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis peaked in the late 1990s/early 2000s, then declined rapidly, and prevalence is now much lower than 20 years ago. However, levels of adolescent binge drinking remain high by international standards and disparities in tobacco and cannabis use by ethnicity and socioeconomic status are wide. Evidence suggests we may again be at a turning point, with-long term declines stalling or reversing in the past 2-5 years, and vaping emerging as a new risk. Greater investment in primary prevention is indicated, including restrictions on alcohol marketing and availability, and alleviation of poverty, racism and marginalisation.

Online Crowdsourcing as a Quasi-Experimental Method for Collecting Data on the Perpetration of Alcohol-Related Partner Aggression

Cross-sectional survey, prospective, and experimental data have been evaluated to better understand the role of alcohol as a contributing cause of intimate partner aggression. Laboratory-based alcohol administration studies provide controlled data regarding causality, but the use of this methodology lacks ecological validity and has been hampered by rigorous procedural and financial demands. Online crowdsourcing is an emerging pseudoexperimental methodology with low costs, rapid data collection, access to diverse populations, greater ecological validity, and the potential to facilitate prolific research to supplement the chronic scarcity of experimental data. The current rapid review first summarizes prior methodological approaches to investigating the proximal influence of alcohol on partner aggression, then reviews prior crowdsourcing research in the disparate areas of alcohol and partner aggression, then describes aggression paradigms that may be readily adapted to online administration. We conclude by introducing recommendations for future quasi-experimental research investigating alcohol-related partner aggression research using the online crowdsourcing methodology. Initial evidence suggests that online crowdsourcing may yield appropriate samples and that existing paradigms may be adapted to rapidly, efficiently, and ethically supplement experimental alcohol-related partner aggression research.

Effects of acute alcohol administration on working memory: a systematic review and meta-analysis

RATIONALE

Alcohol-induced executive function deficits may underlie associations between alcohol, self-regulation, and hazardous behaviors. Studies examining the effects of alcohol administration on working memory, an important executive functioning component, have produced mixed findings. Acute alcohol effects on working memory remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of acute alcohol administration on working memory outcomes in studies of healthy adults.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO from inception to June 2021. Studies were included if they met criteria, including healthy participants and administration of quantified alcohol doses against comparative controls. Data extracted included primary working memory outcomes, alcohol doses, and study characteristics. Study quality was assessed using an established validity measure. Working memory task type, alcohol dose, control condition type, and sex/gender composition were explored as moderators using mixed-effects models and meta-regressions.

RESULTS

Thirty-two studies (1629 participants) provided sufficient data for 54 comparisons between alcohol and control conditions. Random-effects meta-analysis indicated that alcohol administration produced significant, small- to medium-sized working memory decrements (g [95% CI] =  - 0.300 [- 0.390 to - 0.211], p < 0.001). Moderation analyses suggested that these effects differed as a function of task type, dose, control condition type, and sex/gender composition. The average quality rating across studies was good.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol administration significantly impaired working memory performance, particularly when executive-related manipulation processes were involved. Future research is needed to investigate how alcohol-induced working memory impairments relate to compromised self-regulation, hazardous behavior, and negative drinking consequences.

Alcohol Misuse and Women's Use of Aggression in Intimate Relationships: The Mediating Role of Motivations for Using Aggression

The relationship between alcohol misuse and women's use of intimate partner violence (IPV) aggression has been well studied; however, there has been no research to date on women's self-reported motivations for use of IPV aggression (e.g., self-defense, control) as an underlying mechanism explaining this link. Accordingly, this study aims to examine whether the effects of alcohol misuse on IPV aggression vary as a function of women's motivations for using aggression. Participants were 412 ethnically diverse community women, between the ages of 18 and 65, in intimate relationships characterized by bidirectional IPV. The Motives and Reasons for IPV Scale was used to assess women's reasons for using IPV aggression. Results revealed that the tough guise motive (i.e., wanting to appear tough, intimidating, and willing to harm one's partner) explained the relationship between alcohol misuse and physical and sexual IPV aggression. Findings suggest the utility of incorporating the assessment of women's motivations for IPV aggression in an effort to provide better informed intervention addressing the underlying reasons women use IPV aggression.

Proteomic Analysis of Protective Effects of Epimedium Flavonoids against Ethanol-Induced Toxicity in Retinoic Acid-Treated SH-SY5Y Cells

Alcohol (ethanol) is one of the most common addictive psychoactive substances in the world, and alcoholism may result in harmful effects on human health, especially on the nervous system. Flavonoids are regarded as the main active constituent in Epimedium, which has been used to cure some nervous system diseases such as amnesia for over 1000 years. Here, the protective effects of Epimedium flavonoids against ethanol-induced toxicity in retinoic acid (RA)-treated SH-SY5Y cells were investigated. Their mechanism was explored by a label-free proteomic approach combined with bioinformatic analysis for the first time. The results showed that ethanol treatment decreased cell viability by 18%, whereas the viability increased significantly after intervention with Epimedium flavonoids (p < 0.01). According to proteomic and bioinformatic analyses, hundreds of differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified and classified as biological process (GO_BP), cellular component (GO_CC) and molecular function (GO_MF). Among them, GO_MF of DEPs, especially molecular function relevant to G proteins, greatly changed in SH-SY5Y cells pretreated by Epimedium flavonoids. In the alcoholism pathway, the expression of the Gi protein was up-regulated under the influence of ethanol, whereas Epimedium flavonoids could reverse the expression profile, both of which were validated by Western blot assay. In conclusion, Gi protein seemed to be an important factor in the alcoholism pathway to suppress the ethanol-induced toxicity of SH-SY5Y cells. These findings suggest a protective potential of Epimedium flavonoids against ethanol-induced toxicity to neurons via the regulation of Gi protein function.

Physical and Sexual Intimate Partner Aggression Among College Students: Examining the Roles of Cyber Intimate Partner Aggression and Alcohol Use

Intimate partner aggression (IPA) is a serious and prevalent problem among college students. Two factors that may increase risk for in-person IPA are cyber IPA and alcohol use. This study examines the interaction between three types of cyber IPA (cyber psychological, stalking, and sexual IPA) and alcohol use in predicting in-person physical and sexual IPA perpetration. Participants were 268 undergraduate students, who participated in a mass screening at a large midwestern university. More than half of the sample reported perpetrating cyber IPA. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine study hypotheses. The R² for physical IPA perpetration was .69 and the R² for sexual IPA perpetration was .46. Cyber stalking IPA and alcohol interacted to predict physical IPA perpetration, such that the relationship between cyber stalking IPA and physical IPA perpetration was stronger among individuals who used more alcohol. Contrary to expectations, cyber IPA and alcohol did not interact to predict sexual IPA. However, consistent with hypotheses, cyber stalking IPA was positively associated with sexual IPA perpetration. The high prevalence of cyber IPA and its association with in-person IPA perpetration suggests that prevention programs targeting cyber IPA on college campuses may be warranted.

Acute effect of alcohol on working memory updating

AIMS

To examine the acute effects of alcohol on working memory (WM) updating, including potential variation across the ascending limb (AL) and descending limb (DL) of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) time-course.

DESIGN

A two-session experiment in which participants were randomly assigned to one of three beverage conditions [alcohol (males: 0.80 g/kg; females: 0.72 g/kg), active placebo (0.04 g/kg) or non-alcohol control (tonic)] and one of two BAC limb testing conditions (AL and DL or DL-only) for the second session, yielding a 3 (beverage) × 2 (time-points tested) × 3 (time-point) mixed factorial design with repeated measures on the latter factor. One of the repeated assessments is 'missing by design' in the DL-only condition.

SETTING

A psychology laboratory at the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, MO, USA.

PARTICIPANTS

Two hundred thirty-one community-dwelling young adults (51% female; aged 21-34 years) recruited from Columbia, MO, USA, tested between 2011 and 2013.

MEASUREMENTS

Latent WM updating performance as indexed by shared variance in accuracy on three WM updating tasks (letter memory, keep track, spatial 2-back) at three time-points.

FINDINGS

Multi-group modeling of latent WM updating indicated that performance among participants who consumed placebo or control beverages improved during the second session at time-points corresponding to AL (∆ from baseline in latent mean ± standard error (SE) + 0.5 ± 0.01, P < 0.001) and DL (+ 0.08 ± 0.01, P < 0.001). Alcohol consumption did not impair WM updating (∆ from baseline in latent mean ± SE, at AL: + 0.01 ± 0.01, P = 0.56; at DL: + 0.05 ± 0.01, P < 0.001), but attenuated performance improvements (equality of latent means across beverage groups at AL or DL: Δχ2(1)  ≥ 7.53, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Acute alcohol-induced impairment in working memory updating may be limited, but dampening of practice effects by alcohol could interfere with the completion of novel, unpracticed tasks.

A daily level analysis of drinking to cope motivation and interpersonal stress

Interpersonal stress is a commonly reported drinking-related problem and evidence indicates that it is associated with drinking to cope (DTC) motivation. The preponderance of evidence for DTC motivation as a risk factor for increased interpersonal stress, however, comes mainly from studies examining between-person associations. Findings suggest that individuals who commonly report drinking to cope with stress show higher average levels of drinking-related interpersonal problems. To better understand the dynamic processes linking DTC motivation with interpersonal stress, we used a micro-longitudinal design to examine whether nighttime drinking-episode specific levels of three subtypes of DTC motivation (DTC related to anxiety, depressive affect and anger) were associated with concurrent and next-day levels of interpersonal stress, controlling for drinking levels. Participants (N = 939) reported their drinking motives, drinking level, and drinking-related problems daily for 30 days during college and again approximately five years later (post-college). Results indicated that, controlling for drinking levels, DTC motivation associated with depressive affect and anger, but not anxiety, were positively associated with concurrent nighttime interpersonal stress. Only DTC related to anger was associated with higher levels of next-day interpersonal stress, controlling for previous night's stress. The only other motive to predict next-day interpersonal stress was conformity motivation. None of the effects of motives varied across study wave. Findings are discussed in terms of how DTC anger might exacerbate interpersonal problems via processes associated with alcohol myopia.

Advancing our understanding of the intersection between emotion regulation and alcohol and drug use problems: Dyadic analysis in couples with intimate partner violence and alcohol use disorder

BACKGROUND

An extensive body of literature has linked emotion regulation to alcohol and drug use problems, including among populations characterized by intimate partner violence (IPV). Advancing this research, the goal of the current study was to examine cognitive emotion regulation strategies and alcohol and drug use problems within a dyadic framework. Specifically, we examined actor and partner effects of maladaptive and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies on alcohol and drug use problems.

METHODS

Eighty-four romantic couples (N = 168 total participants) participating in a randomized controlled trial who reported physical IPV and an alcohol use disorder completed self-reported measures of cognitive emotion regulation as well as alcohol and drug use problems.

RESULTS

Regarding actor effects, men's greater use of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies was positively related to their alcohol use problems (p < .001), whereas both women's (p = .02) and men's (p = .047) greater use of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies was negatively related to their own alcohol use problems. In terms of partner effects, men's greater use of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p = .001) and less use of adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (p = .017) was related to their partners' greater drug use problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings replicate and extend existing work in this area, showing that men's and women's emotion regulation strategies are related to their own alcohol and drug use problems and that men's cognitive emotion regulation strategies are also related to their partners' drug use problems.

Alcohol Problems, Jealousy, and Cyber Dating Abuse Perpetration Among Men and Women: Toward a Conceptual Model

Investigations of alcohol use in relation to cyber dating abuse (CDA) remain underdeveloped relative to alcohol-related face-to-face dating abuse research. A critical step toward advancing this area of research would include examining the applicability of alcohol-related partner abuse models to CDA perpetration. Existing models of alcohol-related partner abuse suggested that alcohol and partner abuse are more likely to co-occur in the presence of aggressogenic distal traits. We propose that this model may extend to CDA perpetration. Toward this end, the present study collected cross-sectional data from college students (N = 258; 56.2% male) to investigate whether trait romantic jealousy moderated the association between alcohol problems and CDA perpetration, controlling for face-to-face dating abuse perpetration. We hypothesized that alcohol problems would positively relate to CDA perpetration among college students with high, but not low, romantic jealousy. We explored whether the interactive effect varied by sex. Results revealed a significant three-way interaction; the moderating role of romantic jealousy in the relation between alcohol problems and CDA perpetration varied by sex. Alcohol problems positively related to CDA perpetration for women with high, but not low, romantic jealousy. Alcohol problems did not relate to CDA perpetration regardless of men's level of romantic jealousy. These preliminary results suggested that alcohol-related partner abuse models may be useful for conceptualizing CDA perpetration and identifying CDA intervention components.

A Longitudinal Examination of Alcohol Problems and Cyber, Psychological, and Physical Dating Abuse: The Moderating Role of Emotion Dysregulation

Given the prevalence of technology, cyber dating abuse (DA) emerged as an important area of empirical inquiry. Cross-sectional data linked cyber DA perpetration to alcohol problems and psychological and physical DA perpetration. However, the longitudinal relations among these constructs are unknown. DA theory and research suggested that higher levels of aggressogenic traits (e.g., emotion dysregulation) increased the likelihood that alcohol problems and DA co-occur; this conceptual model may extend to cyber DA. We collected self-report data from 578 college students at baseline (T1) and 3 months later (T2) to test the hypothesis that T1 alcohol problems would predict T2 psychological, physical, and cyber DA for students with high, but not low, emotion dysregulation. We also hypothesized that T1 cyber DA would predict T2 psychological and physical DA. We conducted path analyses in Mplus and used the Johnson-Neyman technique to probe significant interactions. Results indicated that alcohol problems predicted psychological and physical DA for college students with high and average emotion dysregulation only. Alcohol problems did not predict cyber DA independently or in conjunction with emotion dysregulation. Cyber DA predicted psychological and physical DA. Results extend DA conceptualizations and highlight the importance of targeting emotion dysregulation in college DA intervention programs.

Gender moderates the association between acute alcohol intoxication and facial emotion recognition in a naturalistic field study setting

BACKGROUND

Alcohol intoxication is associated with significant negative social consequences. Social information processing theory provides a framework for understanding how the accurate decoding and interpretation of social cues are critical for effective social responding. Acute intoxication has the potential to disrupt facial emotion recognition. If alcohol impairs the processing and interpretation of emotional cues, then the resultant behavioral responses may be less effective. The current study tested the association between alcohol intoxication and facial emotion recognition in a naturalistic field study of intoxicated participants.

METHODS

114 participants (59.4% men; M_age  = 24.2 years) who had been consuming alcohol were recruited in the downtown area of a mid-size town surrounded by several drinking establishments in the mid-southern United States. Participants were shown images depicting 5 facial displays of emotions (happy, sad, anger, disgust, and no emotion) portrayed by 1 male and 1 female actor per emotion and breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) was measured by the field breathalyzer test (M = 0.078%, SD = 0.052).

RESULTS

BrAC was significantly negatively associated with emotion recognition accuracy when controlling for average alcohol use, B = -.35, t = -2.08, p < 0.05, F(3, 110) = 5.28, p < 0.01, R²  = 0.13. A significant BrAC × gender interaction was revealed, B = -0.39, t = -2.07, p = 0.04, ΔR²  = 0.033, p = 0.04, such that men (but not women) displayed a significant negative association between BrAC and emotion recognition accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute intoxication was associated with impaired facial emotion recognition, particularly for men, in a field study context. Findings support and extend some previous experimental laboratory-based research and suggest that intoxication can impair the decoding stage of social information processing.

Cognitive and Affective Mediators of Alcohol-Facilitated Intimate Partner Aggression

This multisite study examined whether aggressive cognitions and facial displays of negative affect and anger experienced during provocation mediated the association between alcohol intoxication and intimate partner aggression (IPA). Participants were 249 heavy drinkers (148 men, 101 women) with a recent history of IPA perpetration. Participants were randomly assigned to an Alcohol or No-Alcohol Control beverage condition and completed a shock-based aggression task involving apparent provocation by their intimate partner. During provocation, a hidden camera recorded participants' facial expressions and verbal articulations, which were later coded using the Facial Action Coding System and the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations paradigm. Results indicated that the positive association between alcohol intoxication and partner-directed physical aggression was mediated by participants' aggressive cognitions, but not by negative affect or anger facial expressions. These findings implicate aggressogenic cognitions as a mediating mechanism underlying the association between the acute effects of alcohol and IPA perpetration.

A systematic review of suicidal behaviour in men: A narrative synthesis of risk factors

RATIONALE

Suicides by men outnumber those by women in every country of the world. To date, there has not been a comprehensive systematic review of risk factors for suicidal behaviour in men to better understand the excess deaths by suicide in men.

OBJECTIVE

The present systematic review seeks to determine the nature and extent of the risk factors to predict suicidal behaviour in men over time.

METHODS

A range of databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Pubmed, Embase, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection) were searched from inception to January 2020 for eligible articles. The findings were collated through a narrative synthesis of the evidence.

RESULTS

An initial 601 studies were identified. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, there were 105 eligible studies (62 prospective and 43 retrospective) identified. Overall, the risk factors with the strongest evidence predicting suicidal behaviour in men were alcohol and/or drug use/dependence; being unmarried, single, divorced, or widowed; and having a diagnosis of depression. In the prospective studies, the most consistent evidence was for sociodemographic factors (19 risk factors), mental health/psychiatric illness (16 risk factors), physical health/illness (13 risk factors), and negative life events/trauma (11 risk factors). There were a small number of psychological factors (6 factors) and characteristics of suicidal behaviour (3 factors) identified. The findings from the retrospective studies provided further evidence for the risk factors identified in the prospective studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review has highlighted the wide range of risk factors for suicidal behaviour in men, in this review alone 68 different risk factors were identified. Many factors can interact and change in relevance throughout an individual's life. This review has identified extensive gaps in our knowledge as well as suggestions for future research.

Alcohol, Trait Anger, and Psychological Flexibility: A Laboratory Investigation of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

The I³ Model is a meta-theoretical framework that posits intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration is the product of three interactive factors: instigators, impellors, and inhibitors. The present study examined the effects of trait anger (an impellor), psychological flexibility (a disimpellor), and alcohol intoxication (a disinhibitor) on IPV perpetration. Participants were 249 heavy drinkers (41% female) who had perpetrated IPV toward their current partner in the past year. Participants completed self-report measures of trait anger and psychological flexibility, were randomly assigned to consume an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage, and then engaged in the Taylor Aggression Paradigm (Taylor, 1967) ostensibly against their current partner. Analyses detected a small-to-medium effect for two separate two-way interactions. First, a significant Beverage x Psychological Flexibility interaction was detected. Consistent with the I³ Model, explication analyses revealed that alcohol intoxication predicted higher levels of IPV perpetration in those who reported low, but not high, psychological flexibility (i.e., low disimpellance). Second, although the Beverage x Trait Anger interaction was non-significant, explication analyses revealed that alcohol intoxication predicted higher levels of IPV perpetration among those who reported low, but not high, trait anger (i.e., low impellance). These results have several potential treatment implications among alcohol-consuming clients.

A Systematic Review of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) in Alcohol Research

Risk-taking propensity has been crucial to the investigation of alcohol use and consequences. One measure, the balloon analogue risk task (BART), has been used consistently over the past two decades. However, it is unclear how this measure is related to alcohol outcomes. This paper systematically reviews the literature on the BART and alcohol outcomes. First, direct associations between the BART and alcohol use are reviewed including correlations, group comparisons, the BART's prediction of alcohol outcomes and BART performance after consuming alcohol. Then, potential moderators that explain when and for whom the BART is related to alcohol outcomes are reviewed. Finally, potential mechanisms that explain how the BART and alcohol outcomes are related are reviewed. This review reveals patterns in the BART suggesting risk-taking propensity may be related to changes in alcohol use over time; however, there is little evidence to suggest BART scores increase after consuming alcohol. Yet, additional research suggests adjusted average pump scores may be too simplistic for the amount of information the BART captures and understanding individual's patterns of responses on the BART is important for investigating its relation to alcohol outcomes. Finally, this review opens up several future directions for research to understand how risk-taking propensity is related to alcohol outcomes.

Predicting rape events: The influence of intimate partner violence history, condom use resistance, and heavy drinking

Sexual aggression perpetration is a public health epidemic, and burgeoning research aims to delineate risk factors for individuals who perpetrate completed rape. The current study investigated physical and psychological intimate partner violence (IPV) history, coercive condom use resistance (CUR), and heavy episodic drinking (HED) as prospective risk factors for rape perpetration. Young adult men (N = 430) ages 21-30 completed background measures as well as follow-up assessments regarding rape events perpetrated over the course of 3 months. Negative binomial regression with log link function was utilized to examine whether these risk factors interacted to prospectively predict completed rape. There was a significant interaction between physical IPV and HED predicting completed rape; men with high HED and greater physical IPV histories perpetrated more completed rapes during follow-up than men with low HED at the same level of physical IPV. Moreover, psychological IPV and coercive CUR interacted to predict completed rape such that men with high coercive CUR and greater psychological IPV histories perpetrated more completed rapes throughout the follow-up period than men with low coercive CUR at the same level of psychological IPV. Findings suggest targets for intervention efforts and highlight the need to understand the topography of different forms of aggression perpetration.

Frequency of Intimate Partner Violence among an Urban Emergency Department Sample: A Multilevel Analysis

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health problem. Within the U.S., urban emergency department (ED) patients have elevated prevalence of IPV, substance use, and other social problems compared to those in the general household population. Using a social-ecological framework, this cross-sectional study analyzes the extent to which individual, household, and neighborhood factors are associated with the frequency of IPV among a socially disadvantaged sample of urban ED patients. Confidential survey interviews were conducted with 1037 married/partnered study participants (46% male; 50% Hispanic; 29% African American) at a public safety-net hospital. Gender-stratified multilevel Tobit regression models were estimated for frequency of past-year physical IPV (perpetration and victimization) and frequency of severe IPV. Approximately 23% of participants reported IPV. Among men and women, impulsivity, adverse childhood experiences, substance use, and their spouse/partner's hazardous drinking were associated with IPV frequency. Additionally, household food insufficiency, being fired or laid off from their job, perceived neighborhood disorder, and neighborhood demographic characteristics were associated with IPV frequency among women. Similar patterns were observed in models of severe IPV frequency. IPV prevention strategies implemented in urban ED settings should address the individual, household, and neighborhood risk factors that are linked with partner aggression among socially disadvantaged couples.

Daily and situational reports of substance use and dating violence among college students: A 10-week prospective study

•

Dating violence was nearly twice as likely if either partner drank alcohol.

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Women were nearly twice as apt to perpetrate dating violence when they used drugs.

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Men were 1.4 times more likely to perpetrate dating violence when they used drugs.

•

Estimated blood alcohol level and binge drinking were related to dating violence.

Introduction

Although the association between substance use and dating violence is well-established in the research literature, there is limited research establishing the temporal co-occurrence of these variables. The primary objective was to examine the temporal relationship between alcohol and drug use and subsequent dating violence using a proximal effects model.

Methods

This prospective study obtained daily diary data and weekly situational reports on abusive relationship events and substance use from 72 college women in dating relationships over a 10-week interval.

Results

Significant day-to-day associations were found between substance use and dating violence for women’s reports of their own behavior, and that of their male partners. The odds of dating violence were approximately 2.0 times higher on days when perpetrators drank alcohol. Women were approximately 2.0 times more likely to perpetrate dating violence when using drugs, and men were approximately 1.4 times more likely when they used drugs. Estimated blood alcohol concentration levels and binge drinking were associated significantly with dating violence perpetration for women’s reports of men’s behavior as well as for women’s reports of their own aggression. These findings held when examining severe versus minor dating violence as well as any versus no dating violence.

Conclusions

These results further support an association between substance use and partner aggression at daily and situational levels of analysis, extending prior clinical findings to a college dating sample. Taken with previous research findings, our results suggest the need for college sexual assault and dating violence prevention programs to target reductions in substance use.

Pathways From Parental Substance Use to Child Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in a Child Protective Services Sample

This study examines the role of mediation in the pathway from parental substance use to children developing child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Using the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II, a random half sample (i.e., split-half approach) of children aged 18 months to 17 years who remained in the home following a child welfare investigation (N = 1,633) was used to examine direct and mediated pathways from parental self-reported alcohol and drug use to, separately, parent report of child internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Four parallel mediators were examined: child-reported exposure to violence, child-reported parental monitoring, parent-reported harsh physical discipline, and parent-reported emotional maltreatment. The strongest models for both parental alcohol and drug use to internalizing and externalizing behaviors were single-mediator models through emotional maltreatment. Results suggest emotional maltreatment is a crucial intervention target for families with substance use disorders. Parenting interventions must also strengthen parent-child relationships in order to be effective at improving child outcomes.

Prevalence of Alcohol Use and Associated Factors among Dilla University Students, Dilla Town, Southern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Globally, alcohol is one of the most prevalent forms of substance use that is particularly high among young age groups. Despite the adverse health and social challenges associated with alcohol use, it is one of the most common risky behaviours among university students.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol use and associated factors among Dilla University students in Southern Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Dilla University among undergraduate regular students from January to February 2018. A systematic random sampling technique was used to get a total sample of 803 students each year from the department of the university. The collected data were coded, entered into Epi Info version 7.1, and analyzed with SPSS version 20.

RESULTS

A total of 803 participants were successfully interviewed with a response rate of 91.7%. Alcohol use prevalence was 41.8% (n = 336) among participants. Being in fourth year (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.64, 4.31), having friends who use the substance (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.1), being a khat user (AOR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.09), and being a cigarette smoker (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.84) were found to be significantly associated with alcohol use.

CONCLUSION

The current study revealed that fourth-year students, having friends who use the substance, being khat user, and being cigarette smoker had higher odds of alcohol use among the students. So the findings suggest that effective campus-based counselling and peer education should be implemented for early prevention, detection, and alleviation of alcohol use among students in the university.