Delay discounting is associated with substance use in college students.
This study investigated whether a measure of delay discounting was associated with substance use variables in a sample of college students. Participants (N=47) completed a substance use survey and a delay-discounting measure that asked them to make a series of choices between a fixed amount of hypothetical money to be delivered immediately and a larger amount to be delivered after a range of delays. Discounting values were significantly associated with a number of substance use variables, most notably age of first alcohol use (r=-.34; P<.05), age of first smoking (r=-.51; P<.05), age of first marijuana use (r=-.48; P<.05), number of times "passed out" from alcohol use (r=.73; P<.01), and total number of illicit drugs used (r=.32; P<.05). Individuals reporting more illicit drug use and younger ages of first use tend to discount the value of future hypothetical rewards more steeply than their peers.
Kollins
Scott H
SH
Duke Child and Family Study Center, Duke University School of Medicine, 718 Rutherford Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA. kolli001@mc.duke.edu
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012201:Reward; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*