Positive and Negative Urgency Predict Problematic Alcohol Consumption for Subjects with Positive Family History of Alcohol Dependency

poster abstractImpulsivity is an established predictor of alcohol use outcomes and thus is an important construct to investigate (Clark, Vanyukov & Cornelius 2002; Dawes, Tarter & Kirisci 1997; Dick et al. 2010). Impulsivity is a multi-faceted trait, which includes multiple dispositions toward rash action including positive and negative urgency (acting rashly in response to extreme positive and negative emotional states, respectively; Cyders & Smith, 2007), which appear to be the impulsivity-related traits most highly associated with problematic alcohol use (Coskunpinar et al., under review). Furthermore, a family history of alcoholism predicts higher alcohol use in offspring of alcoholics, although this relationship is inconsistent (Dick et al. 2010), suggesting a moderator, perhaps PUR/NUR, which might change the effect of family history on problematic alcohol use. 68 undergraduates (33% male, mean age = 25), 34 of which were family history positive for problematic alcohol consumption, completed the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavioral Scale (UPPS-P), the Alcohol Use Disorders Test (AUDIT) and a family history questionnaire. Multiple regression analyses and independent t-tests were used to test study hypotheses: (1) those with a family history of alcoholism (FHP) would have higher levels of NUR and PUR and (2) the relationship between these traits and AUDIT would be moderated by family history. Those with a positive family history of alcoholism (FHP) are significantly higher in PUR than those without a family history of alcoholism (FHN) (t = 1.523, p < .134), although the groups did not differ on NUR or AUDIT. There was a marginally significant interaction between NUR and family history (Beta = 2.958, p < .040), with a positive relationship between NUR and AUDIT only for those who are FHP. There was no significant interaction with PUR. These findings suggest that genetic differences in problematic alcohol use could be driven in part by the urgency traits

TRAVEL MOBILITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN THE DAILY LIVES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

poster abstractTyson (2010) conducted research on 100 students using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Physical Activity Question-naire (PAQ). He concluded that students who engaged in more exercise had better mental health. Other studies have confirmed his findings, and have demonstrated how a student’s well-being is related to their success in build-ing relationships and maintaining academic studies. On the other hand, stu-dents that do not engage in physical activity often experience negative well-being, including difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and psychological disorders. The objectives of this study are to determine if the strength of association between daily emotion and activity participation is similar across college stu-dents, and how physical activity and travel mobility relate to well-being. The Experience Sampling Method (ESM), developed by Csikszentmihalyi, Larson, and Prescott (1977) will be used in conjunction with an accelerometer and global positioning system (GPS) to collect data from a sample of (n=24) full-time students over a period of seven days from 9:00am-9:00pm. Subjects will be randomly signaled seven times a day, at which time they will com-plete several Likert-type statements and semantic deferential items in order to measure their perceptions of well-being. To date, the combined methodo-logical use of ESM, GPS and accelerometry has not been conducted on col-lege students. Travel mobility and physical activity will be recorded using the Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS and the Actigraph accelerometer. Data collec-tion phase is incomplete. It is expected that the strength of association be-tween daily emotion and activity participation will be consistent across col-lege students, and physical activity and travel mobility will contribute to stu-dent’s well-being. It is also expected that students with high levels of physi-cal activity and travel mobility will report an overall sense of happiness and increased well-being as compared to those with low levels of physical activity and travel mobility