Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Adolescent Social Adversity Effects on Neurodevelopment in Mice
Published on: March 15, 2024
Approach Behaviour, Stress and Substance Use in Young Adults
J Benjamin Hinnant1, Alissa B Forman-Alberti2, Ana K Aquino2
1Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Abstract:
We investigated the interaction between approach behaviours (measured through performance on a resource-gathering task) and self-reported global life stress to predict substance use. Our hypothesis that high levels of approach behaviour in combination with high life stress would predict elevated substance use was guided by the reinforcement sensitivity theory (Gray & McNaughton, ). Ninety-three young adult students (61 women and 32 men) completed a computerized resource-gathering task and questionnaires assessing global life stress and substance use. Consistent with the hypothesis, approach behaviour was positively related to substance use for individuals with high life stress. The findings suggest that person by environment interactions are useful in understanding substance use and we discuss how approach-motivated individuals may arrive at different substance use outcomes as a function of stressful contexts. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Related Concept Videos
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Psychological Responses to Stress
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

