Relationships between alcohol-related memory association and changes in mood: systematic differences between high- and low-risk drinkers.
Heavy alcohol use is common in undergraduates and is associated with health-risk behaviors, negative consequences, and increased risk for future alcohol dependence. Alcohol-related memory associations (AMAs) and mood changes are independently related to student drinking, but more research on how these variables interact is needed.


OBJECTIVE
To examine (i) how AMAs predict drinking behavior after accounting for depression, and (ii) how changes in negative and positive mood predict AMAs among low- and high-risk drinkers.


METHODS
Positive and negative moods were manipulated using a musical mood induction procedure immediately prior to completion of memory association measures. A bootstrapped structural equation model was tested, permitting a sampling distribution free of the requirement of normality.


RESULTS
Negative mood changes predicted AMAs in high-risk drinkers but not in low-risk drinkers, and the opposite was found for positive mood changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative mood-AMA association appeared related to risky drinking, and these subtle implicit cognitive processes may warrant a special focus in intervention programs for high-risk drinkers.
Kelly
Adrian B
AB
Michie Building, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia.
Masterman
Paul W
PW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology