Implicit and explicit cognitions related to alcohol use in children

Research has indicated that implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognitions jointly predict alcohol use in adolescents and adults. Only few studies assessed these cognitions in children. Associations between alcohol cognitions and alcohol use were tested in two studies with 10 year olds (Study 1; N = 99) and 11–12 year olds (Study 2; N = 35). Furthermore, the role of parental alcohol use was examined. Implicit alcohol cognitions were assessed in an Implicit Association Test (IAT) using pictures of alcohol and soft drinks as target stimuli and happy versus angry faces as attribute stimuli (children's faces in Study 1, adults' faces in Study 2). Explicit expectancies and parental alcohol use were assessed with questionnaires. Children demonstrated a relatively stronger association between alcohol and negative facial expressions, and in Study 2, this association was negatively related to alcohol use. In Study 2, paternal drinking was related to implicit negative associations and explicit arousal associations. These studies show that young children have both implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognitions and both appear to play a role in explaining emerging alcohol use of elementary schoolchildren.