title: Unplanned drinking and alcohol-related problems: a preliminary test of the model of unplanned drinking behavior.
abstract: Much research links impulsivity with alcohol use and problems. In 2 studies, unplanned (or impulsive) drinking is assessed directly to determine whether it has direct effects on alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. In Study 1, we examined whether unplanned drinking serves as a proximal mediator of the effects of impulsivity-like traits on alcohol-related outcomes. With a sample of 211 college student drinkers, we found that the Unplanned Drinking Scale was significantly related to alcohol use, and perhaps more important, had a direct effect on alcohol-related problems even after controlling for frequency and quantity of alcohol use. Furthermore, unplanned drinking partially mediated the effects of negative urgency on alcohol-related problems. In Study 2, we examined whether unplanned drinking accounts for unique variance in alcohol-related outcomes when controlling for use of protective behavioral strategies. With a sample of 170 college students, we replicated the findings of Study 1 in that the Unplanned Drinking Scale had a significant direct effect on alcohol-related problems even after controlling for alcohol use; this effect was maintained when controlling for use of protective behavioral strategies. Limitations include the modest sample sizes and the cross-sectional design. Future directions for testing the Model of Unplanned Drinking Behavior are proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Henson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010551:Personality; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult