Alcohol use longitudinally predicts adjustment and impairment in college students with ADHD: The role of executive functions. Psychol Addict Behav 2015 Jun;29(2):444-54
Date
10/28/2014Pubmed ID
25347020DOI
10.1037/adb0000039Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84945948774 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether alcohol consumption longitudinally predicts the adjustment, overall functioning, and grade point average (GPA) of college students with ADHD and to determine whether self-report of executive functioning (EF) mediates these relationships. Sixty-two college students comprehensively diagnosed with ADHD completed ratings at the beginning and end of the school year. Regression analyses revealed that alcohol consumption rated at the beginning of the year significantly predicted self-report of adjustment and overall impairment at the end of the year, above and beyond ADHD symptoms and baseline levels of adjustment/impairment but did not predict GPA. Exploratory multiple mediator analyses suggest that alcohol use impacts impairment primarily through EF deficits in self-motivation. EF deficits in the motivation to refrain from pursuing immediately rewarding behaviors in order to work toward long-term goals appear to be particularly important in understanding why college students with ADHD who consume alcohol have a higher likelihood of experiencing significant negative outcomes. The implications of these findings for the prevention of the negative functional outcomes often experienced by college students with ADHD are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
Author List
Langberg JM, Dvorsky MR, Kipperman KL, Molitor SJ, Eddy LDAuthor
Stephen Molitor PhD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Alcohol Drinking
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Executive Function
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Motivation
Self Report
Severity of Illness Index
Social Adjustment
Students
Universities
Young Adult
