Generation and recall of alcohol-related information in excessive drinkers: relation to problem severity, outcome expectancies, and stage of change.
Generation and recall of information supporting and opposing reduction in alcohol use were examined in 47 excessive drinkers. Generation of reasons to change drinking increased across stages of change and was positively associated with alcohol problem severity, negative alcohol expectancies, benefits of changing drinking, and strength of reasons to change. Generation of reasons not to change drinking was not significantly associated with stage of change but was positively associated with positive alcohol expectancies and strength of reasons not to change. Incidental recall of negative outcomes of changing drinking decreased across stage of change and was positively associated with perceived strength of reasons not to change. Results suggest potential biases in generation and recall of alcohol-related information that could act to maintain excessive drinking by making certain types of information more available during decision making.
Kahler
C W
CW
Department of Psychology and Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers-State University of New Jersey, USA. christopher_kahler@brown.edu
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome