Decisions to Attend and Drink at Party Events: The Effects of Incentives and Disincentives and Lifetime Alcohol and Antisocial Problems

Abstract

Background Alcohol use disorders are associated with patterns of impulsive / risky decision making on behavioral economic decision tasks, but little is known about the factors affecting drinking-related decisions. Methods The effects of incentives and disincentives to attend and drink at hypothetical alcohol-related party events as a function of lifetime (LT) alcohol and antisocial problems were examined in a sample of 434 young adults who varied widely in LT alcohol and antisocial problems. Results Moderate and high disincentives substantially discouraged decisions to attend the party events and were associated with decisions to drink less at the party events. High versus low party incentives were associated with more attendance decisions. LT antisocial problems were associated with being less deterred from attending by moderate and high disincentives. LT alcohol problems were associated with greater attendance at high party incentive contexts. LT alcohol problems were associated with drinking more at the majority of events, however, the results indicate that young adults with high levels of alcohol problems moderate their drinking in response to moderate and high disincentives. Finally, attendance and drinking decisions on this hypothetical task were significantly related to actual drinking practices. Conclusions The results suggest that antisocial symptoms are associated with a reduced sensitivity to the potential negative consequences of drinking, while alcohol problems are associated with a greater sensitivity to the rewarding aspects of partying. The results also underline the value of directly assessing drinking related decisions in different hypothetical contexts as well as assessing decisions about attendance at risky drinking events in addition to drinking amount decisions.

Delay Discounting of Losses in Alcohol Use Disorders and Antisocial Psychopathology: Effects of a Working Memory Load

“…Furthermore, in a study of drinking decisions in those with AUDs, high levels of comorbid AP symptoms were associated with higher rates of decisions to attend riskier drinking events (i.e. events associated with increased probability of negative outcomes), suggesting a greater insensitivity to aversive consequences compared to healthy controls (Finn, Gerst, Lake, & Bogg, in press). Studying discounting of delayed losses in individuals with AUDs and comorbid AP is particularly important given that, in cases of prolonged or habitual alcohol abuse, individuals' choices to continue drinking reflect, in part, a preference to avoid smaller immediate negative events (such as withdrawal, stress) in favor of long-term (delayed) negative consequences, such as serious health problems, divorce, and legal consequences (Madden & Bickel, 2010).…”

Risky drinking decisions: The influence of party music and alcohol abuse in young adult women

“…In regards to alcohol, risky drinking decisions may result in part because the party music may highlight the rewarding aspects of drinking/partying and at the same time reduce the possibility of considering the potential negative consequences of drinking, which would result in an increased likelihood to decide to drink without regard to potential risk. Finn and colleagues have found that alcohol party incentives can increase how much alcohol young adults decide to consume and their likelihood of deciding to attend the alcohol party events regardless of the negative consequences (Finn et al, 2017). Party music may have therefore contributed to the particular domain-specific effect found in the current study by specifically highlighting the positive aspects of drinking.…”

“…Young (or emerging) adults show a higher prevalence of substance use, heavy drinking, and binge drinking than any other age group (Chen & Kandel, 1995;Grant et al, 2004;White & Jackson, 2004). A key feature of the vulnerability associated with substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder (Bickel & Marsch, 2001;Finn, Gerst, Lake, & Bogg, 2017;Garavan & Stout, 2005) is the propensity to make risky decisions, especially in emerging adults (Baer, 2002;Bernheim et al, 2012;Jackson, Sher, & Park, 2005). Emerging adulthood is characterized by instability in the social environment (Arnett, 2000) that leads to exploration of novel social bonding possibilities.…”

“…Their result suggests that music can affect decisions by improving mood, leading to greater optimism in participants about the chances of a payoff. However, there is discussion in the literature about whether results of gambling tasks can be generalized to risky drinking behavior Finn et al, 2017;Wiers et al, 2010). Context and situational factors have been shown to influence drinking decisions, and to interact with alcohol-dependence status in complex ways Finn et al, 2017).…”

“…However, there is discussion in the literature about whether results of gambling tasks can be generalized to risky drinking behavior Finn et al, 2017;Wiers et al, 2010). Context and situational factors have been shown to influence drinking decisions, and to interact with alcohol-dependence status in complex ways Finn et al, 2017). It is therefore reasonable to expect that music would influence risky drinking decisions differently than risky monetary decisions, especially music associated with alcohol use.…”