title: Moderators of implicit and explicit drinking identity in a large US adult sample.
abstract: Drinking identity (viewing oneself as a drinker) is a potential risk factor for problematic drinking in US undergraduate samples. Whether that risk extends to a broader, more general US sample is unknown. Additionally, there are critical, unanswered questions with respect to moderators of the drinking identity-problematic drinking relationship; an important issue for designing prevention efforts. Study aims were to assess the unique associations and interactive effects of implicit and explicit measures of drinking identity on problematic drinking, and to evaluate age and sex as potential moderators of the drinking identity-problematic drinking relationship. A sample of 11,320 adults aged 18-98 completed measures of implicit and explicit drinking identity and problematic drinking (the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test; AUDIT). Implicit and explicit drinking identity had positive, significant associations with AUDIT scores, as expected. Moderation analyses indicated small, but significant, interactions. There was an implicit by explicit identity interaction consistent with a synergistic effect: lower implicit and explicit identity was linked to a greater probability of being a non-drinker. Age moderated explicit but not implicit identity: lower drinking identity appeared to be more protective for younger individuals. Sex moderated implicit but not explicit identity: a weaker positive association with implicit identity and AUDIT scores was observed among men, potentially reflecting stigma against women's drinking. Findings suggest that drinking identity's potential as a risk factor for problematic drinking extends to a more general US sample and that both implicit and explicit identity should be targeted in prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th St., Ste 300, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: KPL9716@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Kristen P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Lindgren
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, 1100 NE 45th St., Ste 300, Seattle, WA 98115, USA. Electronic address: mlgasser@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, PO BOX 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. Electronic address: ajw3x@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werntz
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, PO BOX 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. Electronic address: nn2r@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Nauder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Namaky
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University, Department of Psychology, 268 TLRB, Provo, UT 84660, USA. Electronic address: scott_baldwin@byu.edu.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Department of Psychology, PO BOX 400400, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4400, USA. Electronic address: bteachman@virginia.edu.
authors.forename: Bethany A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Teachman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Age; Explicit drinking identity; Hazardous drinking; Implicit drinking identity; Sex