The moderating role of implicit alcohol-related cognitions in hazardous alcohol use

Abstract

The present study applied the Go/No-Go Association Test (GNAT; Nosek & Banaji, 2001) to measure alcohol-related implicit cognitions. Additionally, it assessed the role of implicit cognitions as a potential moderator in the relationship between explicit predictors of alcohol use and hazardous drinking behavior. University undergraduate students (N = 214) completed self-report questionnaires assessing reasons for drinking and reported alcohol use. Participants also completed two GNATs assessing implicit-alcohol-related cognitions associated with attitude (good-bad) and perceived safety (safe-dangerous). As expected, participants held implicit appraisals of alcohol as “bad” and “dangerous” in the context of nonalcoholic drinks, and as “good” and “safe” in the context of licit and illicit drugs. Implicit alcohol-related cognitions moderated the relationship between drinking to cope with negative affect and hazardous drinking and drinking due to cues or craving and hazardous drinking. These findings highlight the multidimensional nature of implicit cognitions and the role of negative implicit alcohol-related associations in moderating relationships between explicit processes and subsequent alcohol use behaviors.

• Alcohol
• coping
• craving
• drugs
• implicit cognitions

Declaration of interest

This research was supported in part by funds from the National Institute on Drug Abuse: R01DA034739 (PI: E. Obasi), P30DA027827 (PI: G. Brody).