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A Prediction Error-driven Retrieval Procedure for Destabilizing and Rewriting Maladaptive Reward Memories in Hazardous Drinkers
Published on: January 5, 2018
Overestimation of close friend drinking problems in the prediction of one's own drinking problems
Anthony H Ecker1, Alex S Cohen2, Julia D Buckner2
1Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, 236 Audubon Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, 950 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516, USA.
Background:
Overestimation of the amount that other students drink is related to alcohol-related problems. Although beliefs concerning students' friends tend to be stronger predictors of drinking than beliefs regarding students generally, little research has focused on overestimation of friends' drinking-related problems.
Objectives:
Test hypotheses that students overestimate a close friend's drinking-related problems and that such overestimation would relate to more frequent drinking and related problems.
Method:
Participant/Friend pairs (N=55) completed online measures of drinking-related beliefs and behaviors.
Results:
Participants overestimated the alcohol-related problem severity experienced by their friends. Greater overestimation of friends' problems was related to greater participant alcohol-related problems and binge drinking.
Conclusions/Importance:
Cognitive distortions regarding a friend's drinking-related behaviors may be useful therapeutic targets.
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