Assessing whether self-reported impulsivity, task-based inhibitory control, and early sipping behaviors longitudinally predict adolescent alcohol use and problems in the ABCD study

Early low-level alcohol use, impulsivity, and inhibitory control predict subsequent alcohol use and experiencing related problems. However, few studies have examined the unique and incremental contributions of early sipping, impulsivity, and inhibitory control as predictors of adolescent alcohol use over time.

Data Release 6.0 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study was used (n = 11,868; 48% Female). Negative binomial generalized linear mixed-effect models examined relationships of sipping at baseline (ages 9-10) and self-reported impulsivity (UPPS-P) and task-based inhibitory control (Flanker task) over time independently and together in one model as predictors of past-year drinks and problematic alcohol use by ages 15-16.

In individual models, lack of perseverance*age predicted past-year drinks. Sipping*age interactions also predicted past-year drinks. In the full model three significant interactions were identified, (1) sipping*age, (2) lack of perseverance*age, and (3) lack of planning*age. Importantly, plots suggest each as a main effect of drinks is not dependent on age. Regarding problematic use, there was a significant interaction in the full model: positive urgency*age (IRR=1.05, p = .04), with plots supporting that this relationship is more pronounced in younger ages in those with low positive urgency. There were no significant results for inhibitory control.

Our results found a positive interaction between positive urgency and age on problematic use, potentially indicating low positive urgency as a vulnerability to experiencing problems associated with alcohol use at younger ages. Understanding facets of impulsivity in the context of adolescent alcohol use is important for prevention and intervention efforts, though caution is warranted given small effect sizes.