TY - JOUR
T1 - Mediated and moderated associations between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure, emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and lifetime alcohol use
T2 - a cross-sectional scoping study of UK drinkers
AU - Clay, James M.
AU - Baker, Kiera A.
AU - Mezabrovschi, Roxana D.
AU - Berti, Giacomo
AU - Shields, Grant S.
AU - Slavich, George M.
AU - Stafford, Lorenzo D.
AU - Parker, Matthew O.
PY - 2023/8/1
Y1 - 2023/8/1
N2 - Stress, trait impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are independent predictors of alcohol use and misuse, but little is known about the potential mechanisms that link these risk factors together. To address this issue, we carried out an exploratory cross-sectional study, on UK-based participants. Our preregistered, hypothesised theoretical framework was that emotional dysregulation mediates the association between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and lifetime alcohol use. We also hypothesised that heightened impulsivity would strengthen these relations. As hypothesised, emotional dysregulation fully mediated the relation between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and lifetime alcohol use. Several facets of impulsivity moderated these associations. For example, as levels of negative urgency increased, the associations between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and emotional dysregulation, emotional dysregulation and lifetime alcohol use, and lifetime stress exposure and lifetime alcohol use, via emotional dysregulation, strengthened. These preliminary findings propose a theoretically framed model which integrates several prominent risk-factors for alcohol misuse, extending prior research and generating interesting and novel lines of enquiry for longitudinal and cross-cultural analyses. The findings also highlight the potential clinical utility of screening for lifetime stress exposure while tailoring personalised treatment interventions.
AB - Stress, trait impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are independent predictors of alcohol use and misuse, but little is known about the potential mechanisms that link these risk factors together. To address this issue, we carried out an exploratory cross-sectional study, on UK-based participants. Our preregistered, hypothesised theoretical framework was that emotional dysregulation mediates the association between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and lifetime alcohol use. We also hypothesised that heightened impulsivity would strengthen these relations. As hypothesised, emotional dysregulation fully mediated the relation between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and lifetime alcohol use. Several facets of impulsivity moderated these associations. For example, as levels of negative urgency increased, the associations between cumulative lifetime stressor exposure and emotional dysregulation, emotional dysregulation and lifetime alcohol use, and lifetime stress exposure and lifetime alcohol use, via emotional dysregulation, strengthened. These preliminary findings propose a theoretically framed model which integrates several prominent risk-factors for alcohol misuse, extending prior research and generating interesting and novel lines of enquiry for longitudinal and cross-cultural analyses. The findings also highlight the potential clinical utility of screening for lifetime stress exposure while tailoring personalised treatment interventions.
KW - addiction
KW - alcohol
KW - impulsivity
KW - risk-taking
KW - stress
KW - UKRI
KW - ERSC
KW - ES/P000673/1
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162115758&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.020
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.06.020
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85162115758
SN - 0022-3956
VL - 164
SP - 140
EP - 149
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
ER -