Title page for ETD etd-04142008-130727

Type of Document

Thesis

Author

Steele, Reed Henderson

Author's Email Address

steele@psy.fsu.edu

URN

etd-04142008-130727

Title

Substance Use Problems and Negative Life Events in College Students: An Examination of Individual Differences Variables as Potential Moderators and Mediators

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Psychology, Department of

Advisory Committee

Advisor Name	Title
Alan R. Lang	Committee Member
Ashby Plant	Committee Member
Jeanette Taylor, Ph.D.	Committee Member

Keywords

alcohol use
drug use
impulsivity
negative emotionality
stress
negative life events

Date of Defense

2008-03-31

Availability

unrestricted

Abstract

Individual differences may explain why some people indulge in maladaptive alcohol and drug use when faced with negative life events while others do not. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible role that impulsivity, negative emotionality, and amount of stress associated with negative life events have in explaining the positive correlation between negative life events and alcohol and drug use problems. University students (N = 617; 316 females) provided data for the study. Regression analyses indicated that impulsivity moderated the association between the number of negative life events (predictor) and drug use problems (dependent variable), suggesting that individuals who are already at an increased risk for drug use problems (e.g., high impulsivity) may be at an even higher risk if they experience higher numbers of negative life events. Results also indicated that impulsivity moderated the association between drug use problems (predictor) and the number of negative life events (dependent variable), suggesting that individuals high in impulsivity are at a greater risk for experiencing negative life events particularly when they have a higher level of drug use problems. Results highlight the need for drug use prevention efforts on college campuses that focus on helping individuals at greatest risk for drug use problems (i.e., high impulsivity) use effective techniques when confronted with negative life events rather than turning to psychoactive substance use.

Files

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