title: Habit doesn't make the predictions stronger: implicit alcohol associations and habitualness predict drinking uniquely.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As research on implicit (in the sense of fast/reflexive/impulsive) alcohol associations and alcohol advances, there is increasing emphasis on understanding the circumstances under which implicit alcohol associations predict drinking. In this study, we investigated habitualness of drinking (i.e., the extent to which drinking is automatic or occurs without thinking) as a moderator of the relations between several measures of implicit alcohol associations and key drinking outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 506 participants (57% female) completed web-based measures of implicit alcohol associations (drinking identity, alcohol approach, and alcohol excitement), along with indicators of habitualness, and typical alcohol consumption, alcohol problems, and risk of alcohol use disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As expected, implicit alcohol associations, especially drinking identity, were positively associated with, and predicted unique variance in, drinking outcomes. Further, habitualness emerged as a consistent, positive predictor of drinking outcomes. Contrary to expectations, habitualness rarely moderated the relation between implicit alcohol associations and drinking outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although moderation was rarely observed, findings indicated that even mild levels of habitualness are risky. Findings also continue to support implicit alcohol associations, particularly drinking identity, as a risk factor for hazardous drinking. Collectively, this suggests the importance of targeting both in prevention and intervention efforts.
authors: 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: Kristen P
authors: KP
authors: Lindgren
authors: University of Houston, Department of Psychology, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5522, USA. Electronic address: cneighbors@uh.edu.
authors: Clayton
authors: C
authors: Neighbors
authors: University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, 102 Gilmer Hall, PO Box 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. Electronic address: bat5x@virginia.edu.
authors: Bethany A
authors: BA
authors: Teachman
authors: 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: Melissa L
authors: ML
authors: Gasser
authors: 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: dkaysen@uw.edu.
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Kaysen
authors: Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, 1107 NE 45th Street, Suite 120, University of Washington, Box 354805, Seattle, WA 98195-4805, USA. Electronic address: Norris@uw.edu.
authors: Jeanette
authors: J
authors: Norris
authors: University of Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Department of Psychology, Weesperplein 4, 1018 XA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: R.W.H.J.Wiers@uva.nl.
authors: Reinout W
authors: RW
authors: Wiers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006184:Habits; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Dual process models; Habitualness; Implicit associations; Moderators