| Previous research has shown inconsistent results on the relationship between executive
functions and alcohol use and alcohol-related problems (Hustad et al., 2009; Martins et al., 2018;
Wardell et al., 2016) among college students. Currently, there are few studies that examine
potential mediators to explain the relationship between executive functions and alcohol-related
problems (Giancola, 2007; Godlaski & Giancola, 2009). Currently, there is only one study that
examined protective behavioral strategies as a mediator of the relationship between self-reported
executive functions and alcohol use, while also examining if metacognitive beliefs on alcohol
use moderate the relationship between self-reported executive functions and protective
behavioral strategy use (Darwin, 2020). The current study examines whether specific executive
functions tasks are associated with alcohol use and alcohol-related problems and whether
protective behavioral strategies mediate the relationship between executive functions and alcohol
use and alcohol-related problems. Participants were given a series of questionnaires that assessed
their alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, and use of protective behavioral strategies.
Additionally, neurocognitive tests were used to assess the participants' levels of different types of
executive functions (i.e., response inhibition, task switching, working memory). Protective
behavioral strategies did not mediate the relationship between certain executive functions and
alcohol use and related problems.
Keywords: Executive, Functions, Protective, Behavioral, Strategies, Alcohol, Related, Problems,
Use |