Impulsivity-related traits, college alcohol beliefs, and alcohol outcomes: Examination of a prospective multiple mediation model among college students in Spain, Argentina, and USA.
OBJECTIVES
The present study examined (both cross-sectionally and prospectively) the mediational role of college alcohol beliefs in the relationship between impulsivity-related traits and alcohol outcomes (i.e., alcohol use and negative consequences) among college student drinkers from the United States (U.S.), Spain, and Argentina.


METHOD
A sample of 1429 (U.S. = 733, Spain = 292, Argentina = 404) drinkers (at least one drinking episode within the previous month) completed the baseline survey, and 242 drinkers completed the follow-up. To test study aims, a cross-sectional model was first employed to examine whether the proposed double-mediated paths (i.e., each dimension of impulsivity → college alcohol beliefs → alcohol use → negative alcohol-related consequences) extends across samples with different cultural backgrounds (i.e., structural invariance testing). A longitudinal model was then conducted to assess if college alcohol beliefs prospectively mediate the associations between trait impulsivity and alcohol outcomes.


RESULTS
College alcohol beliefs were concurrently and prospectively associated with both greater alcohol use and increased number of negative alcohol-related consequences. These internalized beliefs about college student drinking culture significantly mediated the effects of several distinct impulsivity-related traits on alcohol-related outcomes including urgency (positive and negative), sensation seeking, and perseverance. These findings were invariant across gender and across three countries (Argentina, Spain, and the U.S.).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings highlight the modulatory role of cognitive factors on problematic alcohol use among college students with different cultural backgrounds. Our results suggest that, despite the cultural differences exhibited by these three countries, the unique and mediational effects of college alcohol beliefs appear relatively universal.
['Bravo|Adrian J|AJ|', 'Pearson|Matthew R|MR|', 'Pilatti|Angelina|A|', 'Read|Jennifer P|JP|', 'Mezquita|Laura|L|', 'Ibáñez|Manuel I|MI|', 'Ortet|Generós|G|']
D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders D001118:Argentina D001290:Attitude D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007175:Impulsive Behavior D008297:Male D010551:Personality D011446:Prospective Studies D013030:Spain D013334:Students D014481:United States D014495:Universities D055815:Young Adult
College alcohol beliefs Alcohol College students Impulsivity Cross-cultural