The Who and Where of Drinking: Examining the Role of Impulsivity

Impulsivity is thought to reflect a vulnerability to alcohol-related problems. Research suggests that impulsive individuals may engage in heavier alcohol use in stimulating environments. However, prior studies have not tested this assumption using an in vivo approach (i.e., daily diary). This study examined whether both high sensory stimulating contexts and heavy peer drinking contexts moderate the association between impulsivity and alcohol consumption.

Over a two-week period, participants (N = 102; 61.8% female) responded to daily notifications assessing their alcohol consumption and the drinking event context. At the initial laboratory visit, participants completed a measure of impulsivity.

Analyses revealed a significant interaction between impulsivity and heavy peer drinking contexts. Specifically, impulsivity was moderated by heavy peer drinking contexts, such that highly impulsive individuals engaged in heavier alcohol use in heavy peer drinking contexts. No significant interaction was found between impulsivity and high sensory stimulating contexts.

Highly impulsive individuals appear particularly sensitive to heavy peer use, relative to individuals with lower levels of impulsivity. The findings highlight the importance of examining the influence of heavy peer drinking as a potential intervention target, particularly for individuals high in impulsivity.