Mediation–moderation analysis of problematic alcohol use: The roles of urgency, drinking motives, and risk/benefit perception

ObjectiveThe goal of the current study is to examine how urgency, drinking motives, and risk/benefit perception concurrently influence problematic alcohol consumption in young adults.MethodParticipants were 281 young adults enrolled in large, public US mid-western university. The mean age of the sample was 19.81 (SD = 1.82) and 79.7% of the sample was female and 84.7% of the sample was Caucasian.ResultsA series of moderated-mediation analyses indicated the following: The relationship between negative urgency and alcohol use was mediated through coping motives, and this relationship between coping motives and alcohol use was moderated by benefit perception. The relationship between positive urgency and alcohol use was mediated through enhancement motives, and this relationship between enhancement motives and alcohol use was moderated by benefit perception.ConclusionsThis study suggests that modifying perceptions about the benefits of alcohol and drinking motives could be viable prevention and/or treatment strategy in this population, especially among those who exhibit urgent behaviors.

► We examine the role of risk-benefit perception in the relationship between motives and drinking.
► Coping motives mediate the relationship between negative urgency and drinking.
► Enhancement motives mediate the relationship between positive urgency and drinking.
► Perception of benefit moderates the relationship between coping motives and drinking.
► Perception of benefit moderates the relationship between enhancement motives and drinking.