Daily affect variability and context-specific alcohol consumption.
OBJECTIVE
Research explored the effects of variability in negative and positive affect on alcohol consumption, specifying daily fluctuation in affect as a critical form of emotion dysregulation. Using daily process methodology allows for a more objective calculation of affect variability relative to traditional self-reports. The present study models within-person negative and positive affect variabilities as predictors of context-specific consumption (i.e. solitary vs. social drinking), controlling for mean levels of affect.


METHODS
A community sample of moderate-to-heavy drinkers (n = 47; 49% women) from a US metropolitan area reported on affect and alcohol consumption thrice daily for 30 days via a handheld electronic interviewer. Within-person affect variability was calculated using daily standard deviations in positive and negative affect.


RESULTS
Within person, greater negative and positive variabilities are related to greater daily solitary and social consumption. Across study days, mean levels of negative and positive affect variabilities related to greater social consumption between persons; yet, aggregated negative affect variability was related to less solitary consumption.


CONCLUSIONS
Results affirm affect variability as a unique predictor of alcohol consumption, independent of mean affect levels. Yet, it is important to differentiate social context of consumption, as well as type of affect variability, particularly at the between-person level. These distinctions help clarify inconsistencies in the self-medication literature regarding associations between average levels of affect and consumption. Importantly, consistent within-person relationships for both variabilities support arguments that both negative and positive affect variabilities are detrimental and reflect an inability to regulate emotional experience.
Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, USA.
Cynthia D
CD
Mohr
Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, USA.
Sarah
S
Arpin
Department of Psychology, Portland State University, Portland, USA.
Cameron T
CT
McCabe
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
affect variability; daily diary method; drinking context; moderate alcohol use