The role of working memory as a moderator of implicit associations in young adults’ alcohol use

ABSTRACT

Background

Alcohol use is significantly accentuated in young adults, making it important to explore the mechanisms underlying consumption. According to the dual process model, implicit associations have a significant influence on alcohol consumption. Literature has been shown that working memory can moderate the effect of implicit associations on alcohol use and its consequences on hazardous drinkers but conclusions about subjects with other drinking patterns are contradictory.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the moderating role of working memory on the relationship between implicit associations and alcohol use and its consequences in a sample with a low-risk drinking pattern.

Methods

Sixty-five young adults aged between 18 and 25 years were included. Participants answered questions about measures of consumption pattern, alcohol-related consequences, implicit alcohol-identity associations and working memory.

Results

Evidence was found about the moderating role of working memory; in individuals with lower working memory there is a stronger link between alcohol-related implicit associations and alcohol use and its consequences.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the crucial role of working memory across different levels of consumption, allowing us to outline efforts that may prevent the evolution to more severe consumption patterns.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol consumption
• young adults
• dual-process model
• implicit associations
• working memory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - as part the project CIP - Refª UIDB/PSI/04345/2020.