Title
Impulsive and reflective processes related to alcohol use in young adolescents
Author
Pieters, S.
Burk, W.J.
Vorst, H.V.D.
Engels, R.C.
Wiers, R.W.
Publication year
2014
Abstract
Background: Dual process models suggest that the development of addictive behaviors is the result of interplay between impulsive and reflective processes, modulated by boundary conditions such as individual or situational factors. Empirical support for this model has been repeatedly demonstrated in adult samples [for a meta-analysis, see Ref. (1)]. The purpose of this study was to test these processes as they relate to emerging alcohol use in adolescents. Specifically, the interactive effects of several measures of impulsive and reflective processes and working memory capacity (WMC) are examined as predictors of changes in alcohol use among adolescents. It was expected that measures of reflective processes would better predict changes in alcohol use than measures of impulsive processes. Moreover, it was anticipated that WMC would moderate the relation between alcohol-specific impulsive and reflective processes and changes in adolescent alcohol use. Methods: The sample consisted of 427 adolescents (47.7% male) between 12 and 16 years of age (M = 13.96, SD = 0.78) who reported drinking alcohol at least once. Four measures of impulsive processes were included. Attentional bias for alcohol was assessed with a Visual Probe Test; approach bias toward alcohol was assessed with a Stimulus Response Compatibility (SRC) Test; and memory associations with alcohol were assessed with an Implicit Association Test (IAT) and a Word Association Test. Two measures of reflective measures were included: positive and negative expectancies. WMC was measured using a Self-Ordered Pointing Task. Results: Results showed that positive expectancies predicted changes in alcohol use, but this effect was qualified by an interaction with IAT scores. Moreover, SRC scores predicted changes in alcohol use only when negative expectancies were low. Attentional bias and word association scores did not predict changes in alcohol use. The relations between alcohol-specific processes or reflective processes and alcohol use were not moderated by WMC. Conclusion: Although there is empirical evidence for the validity of the model in predicting heavier alcohol use in adolescents, or alcohol abuse and dependence in adults, these observations do not generalize to a sample of normative, early adolescents. More specifically, results indicated that reflective processes are more important predictors of changes in alcohol use than impulsive process during adolescence. © 2014 Pieters, Burk, Van der Vorst, Engels and Wiers. Chemicals/CAS: alcohol, 64-17-5
Subject
Human Performances
TPI - Training & Performance Innovations
ELSS - Earth, Life and Social Sciences
Healthy Living
Adolescents
Alcohol use
Dual process model
Explicit cognition
Implicit cognition
Working memory capacity
alcohol
adolescent
alcohol consumption
attentional bias
behavior change
brain function
child
controlled study
functional assessment
impulsiveness
impulsiveness process
mental task
prediction
process model
qualitative analysis
reflective process
school child
scoring system
social interaction
stimulus response
task performance
working memory
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:80c3fa3f-32ae-43b3-bece-3c857cb9b8a7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00056
TNO identifier
513374
Publisher
Frontiers Research Foundation
ISSN
1664-0640
Source
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5 (MAY)
Article number
56
Document type
article