title: Evaluating implicit drinking identity as a mediator of drinking motives and alcohol consumption and craving.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implicit drinking identity (i.e., cognitive associations between the self and drinking) is a reliable predictor of drinking. However, whether implicit drinking identity might mediate the relationship between other robust predictors of drinking and drinking outcomes is unknown. We hypothesized that implicit drinking would mediate the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol consumption and craving.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed drinking motives at Time 1, implicit drinking identity at Time 2 (on average, 11 days later) and self-reported alcohol consumption and craving at Time 3 (on average, 6 days later) in a sample of 194 US undergraduates (54% women) who reported at least one heavy drinking episode (4 drinks for women, 5 for men) in the past month. Participants completed self-report measures of drinking motives, daily alcohol consumption, and current craving.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Implicit drinking identity uniquely mediated the relationship between social motives and alcohol consumption. It did not, however, mediate the relationship between motives and craving. Time 2 implicit drinking identity was positively associated with greater alcohol consumption and craving at Time 3, even after controlling for drinking motives. Subsequent analyses indicated significant indirect effects between social, enhancement, and coping motives (but not conformity) and consumption and craving when each motive was evaluated individually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implicit drinking identity continues to have promise as a predictor of drinking outcomes and as a target for interventions. Future experimental and prospective studies will be critical to establish the circumstances under which implicit drinking identity is strengthened and/or activated and the resulting effects on hazardous drinking.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Center for the Study of Health & Risk Behaviors (CSHRB), Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: KPL9716@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, Department of Psychology, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5522, USA. Electronic address: cneighbors@uh.edu.
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neighbors
authors.affiliation: University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychology, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: R.W.H.J.Wiers@uva.nl.
authors.forename: Reinout W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Wiers
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Center for the Study of Health & Risk Behaviors (CSHRB), Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Electronic address: mlgasser@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, PO BOX 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. Electronic address: bat5x@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Teachman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D066249:Craving; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol consumption; Alcohol craving; Drinking identity; Implicit cognition; Implicit drinking identity