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Emotional Impulsivity as a Mediator between Unstable Alcohol Use and Risk for Hypomania

Norwood, Lynn N
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1567672350924669

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Though often overlooked, individuals with subthreshold bipolar symptoms, such as those comprising hypomania, have a tendency to experience emotion dysregulation and engage in dangerous and impulsive behaviors that can have an impact on their finances, interpersonal relationships, and overall mental health (Akiskal et al., 2000; Benazzi, 2007; Fletcher, Parker, Paterson, & Synnott, 2013). Among college students, those who have more difficulty regulating their emotions tend to report more frequent alcohol use and more drinking to cope with emotions (Cooper, Kuntsche, Levitt, Barber, & Wolfe, 2016; Gottfredson & Hussong, 2013). The current study examined if undergraduates who have higher risk for hypomania tend to have more unstable alcohol use and overall drinking quantity, and if this relation is explained by emotional impulsivity. Undergraduate students from a private university in the Midwest completed measures of risk for hypomania, emotional impulsivity, and reported their daily drinking patterns over the past three months. Of note, the measure of unstable alcohol use and drinking quantity used in this study was not administered as suggested in the literature. Therefore, data from this measure was problematic and the validity of results using this measure is questionable and should be interpreted with caution. Results did not support the hypothesis that emotional impulsivity mediates the relation between risk for hypomania and unstable alcohol use and alcohol use quantity. However, results supported that individuals at higher risk for hypomania tend to have more unstable drinking patterns and drink more overall, but only for male participants. Results also supported the hypothesis that individuals with higher emotional impulsivity tend to have more unstable alcohol use and drink more alcohol overall, but also only among male participants. Results also revealed that sex plays a role in this relation with men having more unstable alcohol use and higher drinking quantity than women. Future research should continue to explore the relation between hypomania and alcohol use to better understand it and how it may vary depending on sex.
Nicholas Salsman, PhD, ABPP (Committee Chair)
Susan Kenford, PhD (Committee Member)
Tammy Sonnentag, PhD (Committee Member)
74 p.
Clinical Psychology
hypomania; alcohol use; emotion regulation; impulsivity

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Norwood, L. N. (2019). Emotional Impulsivity as a Mediator between Unstable Alcohol Use and Risk for Hypomania [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1567672350924669

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Norwood, Lynn. Emotional Impulsivity as a Mediator between Unstable Alcohol Use and Risk for Hypomania. 2019. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1567672350924669.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Norwood, Lynn. "Emotional Impulsivity as a Mediator between Unstable Alcohol Use and Risk for Hypomania." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1567672350924669

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1567672350924669
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© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.