Do ADHD symptoms moderate the relation between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol-related outcomes?

Abstract

Research indicates that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be a risk factor for heavy alcohol use and related problems. Research also suggests that positive alcohol expectancies (i.e., positive beliefs about the effects of alcohol) are predictive of risky alcohol use and related problems (e.g., driving while intoxicated). However, no research has examined the association between ADHD symptoms and positive expectancies or the role of ADHD symptoms in the relation between positive expectancies and alcohol use and related problems, an unexplored area addressed by the current study. Participants were 889 undergraduates (76% female, 82.3% Caucasian) at a Southeastern University who completed self-report measures. Parent report (59%) of current and childhood ADHD symptoms was also collected. Findings indicated that ADHD symptoms moderated the relation between positive alcohol expectancies and alcohol-related problems, but not the relation between expectancies and alcohol use. Additional analyses revealed that ADHD symptoms moderated the specific relation between positive expectancies and social alcohol problems (e.g., engaging in unplanned sexual behavior), but not between expectancies and internal alcohol problems (e.g., feeling sad). Moderating effects were significant even after controlling for conduct disorder symptoms and stimulant medication use. Findings have implications for the identification of college students who are at particularly high risk for heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems. Results may also aid in the development of interventions aimed at reducing risky drinking among students.