Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2009):

Automatic alcohol associations: gender differences and the malleability of alcohol associations following exposure to a dating scenario.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Little research has examined contextual influences on implicit measures of alcohol-related cognitions. The current study investigated whether contexts involving alcohol or social dating would affect automatic alcohol approach-avoid associations. METHOD: Undergraduates (n = 112 women, 109 men) completed an Implicit Association Test (IAT) that measured alcohol approach-avoid associations before and after reading a vignette about a date that differed on two dimensions: (1) whether alcohol was present or absent and (2) whether the date ended in attraction or friendship. RESULTS: When the vignette included an alcohol context, alcohol IAT scores increased from baseline (e.g., increased alcohol and approach associations). In a nonalcohol context, alcohol IAT scores increased from baseline when the date was not successful but not when it was successful. CONCLUSIONS: These results contribute to social cognitive science by indicating not only that social contexts with alcohol can influence automatic alcohol associations but also that social contexts without alcohol can influence automatic alcohol associations.

Author information

Author/s: Lindgren, Kristen P (KP); Neighbors, Clayton (C); Ostafin, Brian D (BD); Mullins, Peter M (PM); George, William H (WH);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Richmond, 28 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Virginia 23173, USA. klindgre(-atsign-)richmond.edu

Grants: K99 AA017669 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS) ; T32 AA007455 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs (J Stud Alcohol Drugs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jul; vol 70 (issue 4) : pp 583-92

Dates: Created 2009/06/11; Completed 2009/09/01;

PMID: 19515299, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/1/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Alcohol Drinking - psychology Association Female Humans

Interpersonal Relations Male Sex Characteristics Young Adult

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