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

RIVAROLA MONTEJANO G; BRAVO, ADRIAN J.; PILATTI, A.; PAUTASSI R.M.

Congreso; 2022 Virtual Meeting of the Latinamerican Society of Biomedical Research on Alcoholism; 2022

Latinamerican Society of Biomedical Research on Alcoholism

Alcohol use and impulsivity exhibit a complex relationship. Alcohol use can promote impulsivebehavior, yet those with higher impulsive traits are more likely to engage in alcohol use,especially hazardous alcohol use. This longitudinal study examined the bidirectional relationshipbetween 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 theImpulsivity UPPS-P Scale (5 dimensions: Positive [POS URG] and Negative Urgency [NEGURG], 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. Weconducted Cross-Lagged Panel Model analyses to examine reciprocal changes in alcohol useand impulsivity over time. We found that higher levels of (lack of) PERS predicted higherfrequency of alcohol use at both timepoints (T2 and T3). Adolescents with higher levels of NEGURG and (lack of) PREM at T1 exhibited higher frequency of alcohol use at T2, whereas thosewith higher levels of POS URG and SENS at T2 showed higher alcohol use at T3. On the otherhand, adolescents with higher frequency of alcohol use showed higher levels of NEG URG atT2 and T3 and higher levels of SENS at T2. Altogether, these results provide evidence that animpulsive personality can be a predictor of increases in alcohol use a year later, and thatalcohol use can also predict later increases in impulsive personality. These findings can beuseful for treatment and intervention efforts.