Preliminary support for the role of alcohol cues in food cravings and attentional biases

This study examined whether alcohol odors, in isolation or when combined with pictures, would influence food attentional biases and cravings. Participants' cravings and attentional biases to food and alcohol pictures were assessed after exposure to alcohol or water odors ( n = 77; mean age = 30.84 years, 51.9% female, 83.1% Caucasian). Food attentional biases were increased by alcohol odors, but food cravings were increased only by a combination of alcohol odors and food pictures. These effects were related with self-reported problematic food consumption. These findings support a research program for further examining the effect of alcohol cues on problematic food consumption

Integrating Preclinical and Clinical Models of Negative Urgency

Overwhelming evidence suggests that negative urgency is robustly associated with rash, ill-advised behavior, and this trait may hamper attempts to treat patients with substance use disorder. Research applying negative urgency to clinical treatment settings has been limited, in part, due to the absence of an objective, behavioral, and translational model of negative urgency. We suggest that development of such a model will allow for determination of prime neurological and physiological treatment targets, the testing of treatment effectiveness in the preclinical and the clinical laboratory, and, ultimately, improvement in negative-urgency-related treatment response and effectiveness. In the current paper, we review the literature on measurement of negative urgency and discuss limitations of current attempts to assess this trait in human models. Then, we review the limited research on animal models of negative urgency and make suggestions for some promising models that could lead to a translational measurement model. Finally, we discuss the importance of applying objective, behavioral, and translational models of negative urgency, especially those that are easily administered in both animals and humans, to treatment development and testing and make suggestions on necessary future work in this field. Given that negative urgency is a transdiagnostic risk factor that impedes treatment success, the impact of this work could be large in reducing client suffering and societal costs

Essentially, All Models are Wrong, but Some Are Useful": A Preliminary Conceptual Model Of Co-Occurring E-Cig and Alcohol Use

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: As prevalence rates of electronic cigarette (e-cig) use increase, researchers and clinicians should not only be paying careful attention to the direct health effects of e-cigs, but also the potential impact e-cigs may have on alcohol use behaviors. We review the current state of the literature and propose a conceptual model for the relationship between e-cig and alcohol use, including important consequences, mechanisms, and moderators of this relationship. RECENT FINDINGS: The model is based in emerging literature examining the direct relationship between e-cig and alcohol use, as well as indirect evidence concerning potential mechanisms from research on cigarette and alcohol use. Overall, research indicates a robust relationship between e-cig and alcohol use. SUMMARY: We suggest that a relationship between e-cig use and alcohol use could be particularly problematic, especially for adolescents and for those with or at risk for alcohol use disorders. We hope the presented conceptual model can stimulate research in this area. We make research recommendations, including the need for more methodological rigor, including improved measurement of e-cig use, and expanding research to longitudinal and experimental designs

MODERATED-MEDIATION MODEL OF PERSONALITY AND ALCOHOL

poster abstractPrevious work has shown that both positive (PUR) and negative urgency (NUR) (tendency to act rashly in the face of extreme emotions), predict problematic alcohol consumption (Cyders et al., 2009), and that this relationship is mediated through enhancement and coping motives (Settles et al., 2010). Moreover, research shows that there is a negative relationship between risk and involvement, and that there is a positive relationship between benefit and involvement (Siegel et al., 1994). However, there has not been a lot of research done that looks at the moderational role of risk and perception benefit on the relationship between personality and alcohol, as well as motives and alcohol consumption. Thus, we hypothesize that (1) the relationship between PUR and NUR will be mediated by enhancement and coping motives (respectively); (2) the relationship between coping and enhancement motives and alcohol consumption will be moderated by perception of risk and benefit. 447 first year students participated in the study (75.3% female; mean age=21.02, SD=4.96), and the majority of the sample was Caucasian. We conducted a series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses (according to Cohen et al., 2003), as well as the moderated-mediation analyses (Preacher et al., 2007). Both NUR and PUR significantly predicted alcohol consumption (NUR: β=.330, p<.000; PUR: β=.317, p<.000), and this relationships were mediated by coping (β=.415, p<.000) and enhancement motives (β=.507, p<.000) respectively. The indirect relationship between PUR and alcohol, mediated through enhancement motives, was moderated through perception of benefit (t=2.03, p=.044) and risk (t= -2.67, p=.01) (benefit: from z=4.73, p=.000 when PUR is 1 SD below the mean to z=5.64, p=.000 when PUR is 1 SD above the mean; risk: from z= -1.04, p=.30 when PUR is 1 SD below the mean to z= -3.63, p=.000 when PUR is 1 SD above the mean), whereas only perception of benefit significantly moderated the indirect relationship between NUR and alcohol use (t=1.68, p=.09) mediated through coping motives (from z=3.96, p=.000 when PUR is 1 SD below the mean to z=5.62, p=.000 when PUR is 1 SD above the mean). Therefore, the mediational relationship between urgency and alcohol use through motives seem to be moderated by one’s perception of benefit and risk

The Interactive Effects of Alcohol Cravings, Cue Reactivity, and Urgency on College Student Problematic Drinking.

Introduction: Alcohol cravings have been inconsistently associated with problematic drinking. Two possible moderators are cue reactivity and urgency. Individuals high on urgency might be more likely to develop reactivity to alcohol cues due to their higher rates of drinking. This reactivity might produce greater alcohol cravings and might consequently increase problematic drinking. We hypothesized that alcohol cravings would be more strongly associated with problematic drinking at higher levels of cue reactivity and urgency. Method: In a sample of college students (n = 240), the current study tested three way interactions among cue reactivity, urgency, and alcohol cravings on problematic drinking. The sample was 70.7% female and 75% Caucasian, with a mean age of 19.37 (SD = 1.65). Urgency was measured using two UPPS Impulsive Behavior subscales. Problematic drinking was measured using the AUDIT. Alcohol cravings were measured using the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale. Participants were presented with alcohol pictorial cues during the study, after which their cue reactivity was assessed using the Alcohol Urge Questionnaire. Interactions were tested using multiple regression and simple slope analyses. Results: The effect of alcohol cravings on problematic drinking was significant at low negative urgency and cue reactivity (b = 5.34, p = 0.001), low negative urgency and high cue reactivity (b = 8.69, p<0.001), high negative urgency and low cue reactivity (b = 5.53, p <0.001), and high negative urgency and cue reactivity (b = 4.71, p<0.001). A similar pattern of findings was present with positive urgency, but alcohol cravings were most strongly associated with problematic drinking at low cue reactivity and high positive urgency (b = 6.56, p<0.001). Discussion: These findings clarify the inconsistent alcohol cravings-problematic drinking associations in prior studies. These findings suggest the importance of considering cue reactivity and urgency in understanding how alcohol cravings create risk for problematic drinking

Risks, Risk Factors, and Outcomes Associated with Phone and Internet Sexting Among University Students in the United States

Sexting, defined as the exchange of sexually suggestive pictures or messages via mobile phone or social networking sites (SNS), has received media attention for its prevalence and associated negative outcomes; however, research has not yet fully established risk factors for and resulting outcomes from sexting behaviors. The current study was the first empirical test of a causal path model in males and females, in which impulsivity-related traits and expectancies influence sexual behaviors through phone and SNS sexting. We also examined prevalence and perceived likelihood of common negative outcomes associated with sexting. Multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) statistics were conducted on two independent undergraduate samples (n = 611 and 255). The best fitting SEM model (RMSEA = 0.04, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.94, and χ2 = 176.06, df = 75, p < .001) demonstrated a significant indirect effect of sensation seeking on phone sexting behaviors through sex-related sexting expectancies and a significant indirect effect of sensation seeking on sexual hookup behaviors through phone sexting behaviors (b = 0.06, p = .03), but only for females. Reverse mediations and mediation with SNS were not significant. Negative outcomes were rare: sexts being spread to others was the most common negative sexting experience (n = 21, 12 %). This study suggests the viability of personality and expectancies affecting sexual hookup behaviors through engagement in sexting behaviors. It also suggests that although direct negative outcomes associated with sexting are thought to be common, they were rare in the current sample

Long Term Care Facilities Choice Factor Analysis

poster abstractIntroduction: The largest generation in America has reached retirement age and will continue to do so until the year 2030. This has caused tremendous growth of long-term care facilities and warrants investigation into these facilities. The goal of this study is to understand and quantify incoming residents’ factors of primary importance as assessed by themselves and familial decision makers when choosing a long-term care facility. Methods: Three hundred fifty-four adults who had previously been involved in choosing a long term care facility for a loved one were paid up to $1.25 to complete a questionnaire online via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Participants rated importance of 10 factors involved in decision-making (e.g., price, social environment, medical care availability) on a scale of 1-100. Results: The result of data cleaning culminated in 287 quality survey responses, from which the data was analyzed. One hundred fifty-five of the participants (54%) were female and 1 ( 1, accounting for 55.52% of variance. Factor 1-Comfort and factor 2-Practicality were significantly intercorrelated (r = 0.43). The most important factors were cleanliness, staff (non-physician), and atmosphere (mean scores of 89.43, 85.58, & 84.62 respectively). The least important factors were facility layout and off-site activities (mean scores of 66.64 & 48.43 respectively). Conclusion: Overall, many factors go into decision on long-term care facilities, with the most important factors likely involving cleanliness, staff, and atmosphere. The results of this research can be utilized in long term care facility selection and provide a platform for facilities to adapt to their residents. Mentor: Melissa A. Cyders. Department of Psychology, IUPUI School of Science. Funding provided by the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP)

THE DIFFERENT ALCOHOL USE AMONG ASIAN POPULATION IN U.S.: THE ROLE OF RACE IN THE RELATINOSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY/SOCIAL LEARNING AND ALCOHOL USE

poster abstractAlthough extensive research on alcohol use among Caucasian population has been conducted, there are only a few studies to explore an underlying mechanism of alcohol use on Asian population in U.S. Because of the risks associated with alcohol, it is important to understand the different alcohol use behaviors among Asian group in terms of personality and social learning. Extensive studies have suggested that drinking motives and alcohol expec-tancy are good proxy predictors of social and cultural learning, and impul-sivity is related to personality traits. However, there is only a few data that examine impulsivity, drinking motives, and alcohol expectancy difference by race. No studies have ever examined the mediating and moderating role of race in the relationship between impulsivity and drinking motives/alcohol expectancy on alcohol use. The goal of this poster is to review the different impulsivity, drinking motives, and alcohol expectancy among Asian popula-tion in order to elucidate the unknown mechanism of alcohol use and devel-op a theoretical model of Asian drinking. Our review of the literature indi-cates that Asians particularly endorsed high impulsive coping strategies compared to Caucasians, engaged in problematic drinking due to conformity drinking motives, and alcohol expectancies mediated the relationship be-tween impulsivity and alcohol use only for Asian group. These findings sug-gest that the role of culture and race has crucial influence on Asian drinking pattern in U.S. and needs to be empirically examined in the future studies

THE NEURAL CORRELATES OF EMOTION REGULATION AND URGENCY

poster abstractRecent studies have indicated five distinct facets of impulsivity related personality traits—each differentially related to risky behaviors. These facets are: sensation seeking, positive and negative urgency, premeditation, and perseverance. Urgency, defined as a tendency to behave impulsively in face of strong emotions, has been found to be the most consistent predictor of a number of problematic risky behaviors—including problematic substance use, pathological gambling, and problematic eating behaviors. It has been theorized that this relationship between urgency and problematic risky be-haviors can be attributed to an underlying dysfunction in the ability to regu-late emotions. No studies have examined the neural correlates of the urgen-cy facets. However, prior studies have looked at the neural correlates of emotion regulation, which is an aspect of the urgency facets. The intention of this poster is to review the neural correlates of emotion regulation in or-der to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the urgency facets. Our review of the literature indicates that the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and anterior cingulate cortex are involved in emotion regulation. Particularly, emotion regulation processes may be attributed to the independent and syn-ergistic functioning of these regions. These findings indicate that urgency and possibly other impulsivity related personality traits may have measura-ble neural correlates. Moreover, these findings also introduce the possibility of targeting neural dysfunctions in order to reduce emotionally driven impul-siveness and consequent problematic behaviors