Difficulties with positive, but not negative, emotion regulation moderate the association between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use in college students

Q1 Psychology

Addictive Behaviors Reports Pub Date : 2025-01-07 DOI:10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100583

Katherine Shircliff, Haley Coronado, Madeline McClinchie, Caroline Cummings

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Positive alcohol expectancies are linked to increased alcohol use among college students. Difficulties regulating emotion have been shown to moderate this relationship, though little research accounts for differences based on the valence of the emotion being regulated.

Objective

To examine the independent moderating roles of positive and negative emotion dysregulation on the association between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use.

Methods

College students (N = 165, M_age = 20.48, SD_age = 1.90; 66.1 % Female; 66.7 % White; 65.5 % non-Hispanic) who reported regular substance use (≥ 3 times in the past week) completed a one-time survey. Linear regression analyses with moderation were conducted.

Results

Correlational analyses suggested that positive alcohol expectancies, positive emotion dysregulation, and negative emotion dysregulation were positively associated with greater alcohol use. Linear regression analyses indicated that difficulties with positive emotion regulation moderated the relationship between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol use. However, difficulties with negative emotion regulation did not moderate this relationship. College students who reported greater positive alcohol expectancies and concurrently greater difficulties with positive emotion regulation also report greater alcohol consumption, compared to those who reported greater positive alcohol expectancies and fewer difficulties regulating positive emotion.

Discussion

Difficulties with positive, not negative, emotion regulation may serve as a risk factor for hazardous alcohol use in college students. Findings may inform the modification of existing intervention programs across university counseling centers and other health sectors to promote the development of positive emotion regulation skills for individuals who endorse positive emotion regulation difficulties, thereby reducing hazardous alcohol use amid this high-risk developmental period.

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来源期刊

Addictive Behaviors Reports Medicine-Psychiatry and Mental Health

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors Reports is an open-access and peer reviewed online-only journal offering an interdisciplinary forum for the publication of research in addictive behaviors. The journal accepts submissions that are scientifically sound on all forms of addictive behavior (alcohol, drugs, gambling, Internet, nicotine and technology) with a primary focus on behavioral and psychosocial research. The emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. We are particularly interested in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research. Studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry as well as scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are also very much encouraged. We also welcome multimedia submissions that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings.