Daily Drinking Behaviors and the Influence of Rumination, Impulsivity, and Social Drinking Contexts

Impulsivity may mediate the effect of rumination on daily drinking behaviors via a negative emotional cascade, though few studies have examined temporal associations of rumination and impulsivity leading to drinking within the day. Social drinking contexts may also influence the negative emotional cascade, with social and solitary conditions potentially moderating these associations.

This study used multilevel structural equation modeling (MSEM) to examine the mediating effect of impulsivity between rumination and drinking behaviors at the within- and between-person levels. Social drinking context was also examined as a moderator of the relations between rumination, as well as impulsivity, and later drinking behaviors within-person.

Within-person, earlier day rumination associated with later day impulsivity, which in turn associated with greater likelihood of later day alcohol consumption and negative drinking consequences. Solitary drinking, compared to social drinking, served as a protective factor between earlier day impulsivity and later drinking.

Earlier rumination may lead to greater daily drinking behaviors through impulsivity via negative emotional cascades. Intervention programs seeking to reduce alcohol use may look to target rumination which may in turn lessen impulsive behaviors thereby mitigating daily drinking.