Impulsivity-related traits, college alcohol beliefs, and alcohol outcomes: Examination of a prospective multiple mediation model among college students in Spain, Argentina, and USA

BRAVO, ADRIAN J.; PEARSON, MATTHEW R.; PILATTI, ANGELINA; READ, JENNIFER P.; MEZQUITA, LAURA; IBÁÑEZ, MANUEL I.; ORTET, GENERÓS

ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS.

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2018 vol. 81 p. 125 - 133

0306-4603

Objectives: The present study examined (both cross-sectionally and prospectively) the mediational role of collegealcohol beliefs in the relationship between impulsivity-related traits and alcohol outcomes (i.e., alcohol use andnegative consequences) among college student drinkers from the United States (U.S.), Spain, and Argentina.Method: A sample of 1429 (U.S. = 733, Spain = 292, Argentina = 404) drinkers (at least one drinking episodewithin the previous month) completed the baseline survey, and 242 drinkers completed the follow-up. To teststudy aims, a cross-sectional model was first employed to examine whether the proposed double-mediated paths(i.e., each dimension of impulsivity → college alcohol beliefs → alcohol use → negative alcohol-related consequences) extends across samples with different cultural backgrounds (i.e., structural invariance testing). Alongitudinal model was then conducted to assess if college alcohol beliefs prospectively mediate the associationsbetween trait impulsivity and alcohol outcomes.Results: College alcohol beliefs were concurrently and prospectively associated with both greater alcohol use andincreased number of negative alcohol-related consequences. These internalized beliefs about college studentdrinking culture significantly mediated the effects of several distinct impulsivity-related traits on alcohol-relatedoutcomes including urgency (positive and negative), sensation seeking, and perseverance. These findings wereinvariant across gender and across three countries (Argentina, Spain, and the U.S.).Conclusions: Our findings highlight the modulatory role of cognitive factors on problematic alcohol use amongcollege students with different cultural backgrounds. Our results suggest that, despite the cultural differencesexhibited by these three countries, the unique and mediational effects of college alcohol beliefs appear relativelyuniversal.