Prospective and reciprocal effects of alcohol use and impulsivity among adolescents in Argentina

RIVAROLA MONTEJANO, GABRIELA; BRAVO, ADRIAN; PILATTI, ANGELINA; PAUTASSI, RICARDO MARCOS

Congreso; II Virtual Meeting of the Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA); 2022

Latin American Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (LASBRA)

Alcohol use and impulsivity exhibit a complex relationship. Alcohol use can promote impulsive behavior, yet those with higher impulsive traits are more likely to engage in alcohol use, especially hazardous alcohol use. This longitudinal study examined the bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and impulsivity in Argentinean adolescents. High school students (N=793, M=12.45±0.93; 55% women) reported last-year frequency of alcohol use and completed the Impulsivity UPPS-P Scale (5 dimensions: Positive [POS URG] and Negative Urgency [NEG URG], Sensation Seeking [SENS], Lack of Premeditation [PREM] and Lack of Perseverance [PERS]). Data collection occurred in 3 time points (T1-T3), each wave 1 year apart. We conducted Cross-Lagged Panel Model analyses to examine reciprocal changes in alcohol use and impulsivity over time. We found that higher levels of (lack of) PERS predicted higher frequency of alcohol use at both timepoints (T2 and T3). Adolescents with higher levels of NEG URG and (lack of) PREM at T1 exhibited higher frequency of alcohol use at T2, whereas those with higher levels of POS URG and SENS at T2 showed higher alcohol use at T3. On the other hand, adolescents with higher frequency of alcohol use showed higher levels of NEG URG at T2 and T3 and higher levels of SENS at T2. Altogether, these results provide evidence that an impulsive personality can be a predictor of increases in alcohol use a year later, and that alcohol use can also predict later increases in impulsive personality. These findings can be useful for treatment and intervention efforts.