Examining the daily reciprocal relations between alcohol abstinence self-efficacy and drinking among non-treatment seeking individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Theoretical and empirical models of alcohol use and misuse indicate that abstinence self-efficacy (ASE) predicts improvements in treatment outcomes among individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD). More recently, studies have begun examining daily fluctuations in ASE to better understand in-the-moment determinants of drinking behaviors. With the goal of assessing how ASE is implicated in maintenance (rather than changing) of hazardous drinking patterns, the current study examined daily reciprocal relations between ASE and drinking among individuals with AUD. Non-treatment seeking adults (n = 63) with AUD were recruited and completed daily surveys assessing ASE and drinking behaviors for 14 days. Data were analyzed using time-lagged multilevel modeling. Results indicated that both within- and between-person elevations in ASE predicted decreased likelihood of drinking, but only within-person ASE predicted fewer drinks consumed on drinking days. Previous-day drinking behavior was unrelated to next-day ASE; however, higher percentage of drinking days during the monitoring period (between-person) was associated with lower daily ASE. These results demonstrate that confidence in one's ability to abstain from drinking varies considerably across days, and that fluctuations may be implicated in daily drinking decisions. The lack of effect of previous-day drinking on ASE (combined with the significant effect of average drinking frequency) may suggest that sustained periods of reduced drinking or abstinence are necessary to impact ASE. This study points to ASE's role in the maintenance of daily drinking behavior among non-treatment-seeking individuals with AUD and reiterates the importance of self-efficacy in behavioral control and decision-making at the daily level.

Disaggregating within- and between-person effects of affect on drinking behavior in a clinical sample with alcohol use disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the current study was to better understand affect-drinking relations among those diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD), as recent meta-analytic work suggests that daily negative affect may not universally predict subsequent alcohol consumption in those nondependent on alcohol. Specifically, we investigated the between- and within-person effects of positive and negative affects on drinking. METHOD: Participants (n = 92) who met AUD diagnostic criteria completed a 90-day daily assessment of drinking behavior and positive and negative affects. RESULTS: Time-lagged multilevel modeling revealed that within-person elevations in negative affect predicted increased odds and quantity of drinking later in the day. Relations between positive affect and drinking were nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are in contrast to recent meta-analytic findings and highlight the complexity of affect-drinking relations among those diagnosed with AUD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Expectancies for and Pleasure from Simultaneous Alcohol and E-Cigarette Use among Young Adults.

Background: Young adults' use of alcohol and e-cigarettes are of public health concern, as they report among the highest prevalence for use of both substances. Many young adults use alcohol and e-cigarettes simultaneously (i.e., at the same time with overlapping effects) despite heightened risk for adverse effects. Objectives: This study assessed simultaneous use expectancies and changes in pleasure from e-cigarettes as a function of alcohol consumption and simultaneous use frequency. Participants (N = 408; Mage = 23.64 years; 52.7% female) recruited through Amazon MTurk completed measures of alcohol and e-cigarette use, and expectancies, pleasure and frequency of simultaneous use. Results: Separate linear regression models revealed that alcohol consumption was positively associated with expectancies for simultaneous use of e-cigarettes/alcohol and pleasure from simultaneous use (ps ≤ .015). As individuals engaged in simultaneous use more frequently, they also reported greater expectancies for, and increased pleasure from, simultaneous use (ps < .001). Conclusions/Importance: Expectancies for simultaneous use may be greatest among young adults who consume more alcohol and engage in simultaneous use more frequently. Increased pleasure from e-cigarettes while drinking suggests that positive reinforcement may be implicated in simultaneous use patterns. Future research should examine the role of pleasure in simultaneous use trajectories.