Relationships between executive functions and alcohol-related consequences among undergraduates

Abstract

University students in Canada endorse higher levels of alcohol consumption than their noncollege peers. This heavy drinking carries with it the risk of adverse consequences, including physical injuries, academic struggles, and legal problems. University students also report positive consequences associated with their alcohol consumption, which may function to reinforce heavy drinking patterns. Impairments in executive functions (EFs) may be a potential cognitive factor that increases student vulnerability to alcohol-related consequences. EFs have been found to continue developing into emerging adulthood and are associated with an earlier age of onset for alcohol use and heavier alcohol use patterns. With this in mind, the goal of this study was to examine the relationships between EFs and alcohol-related consequences among undergraduate students. To do this, undergraduate students from Lakehead University (N = 211; 82.5% female; 82.5% Caucasian) completed an online self-report questionnaire. Emotion Regulation and Working Memory were significant predictors of both positive and negative consequences, while Inhibitory Control was a significant predictor of negative consequences only. This study serves as a preliminary step toward better understanding the link between EFs and alcohol-related consequences among university students, providing a knowledge base for future prevention and intervention strategies.