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Alcohol Consumption and Self-Regulation

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Social Neuroscience and Public Health

Abstract

Research to date mostly supports a relationship between self-regulatory capacity (and in particular executive function) and alcohol consumption. This chapter explores the nature of this bi-directional relationship, in particular the roles of different types of executive function in different stages or modes of alcohol consumption, the findings of laboratory- and community-based research, the effectiveness of chapter and cognitive measures of self-regulatory capacity, measurement issues and interventions targeting self-regulation in alcohol studies. The diverse research in this area suggests that further interventions targeting self-regulatory capacity are warranted in the alcohol literature, and with preliminary research already existing, population level interventions would be useful.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Sydney, 2006, Australia

    Barbara Mullan

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  1. Barbara Mullan
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Correspondence to Barbara Mullan .

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  1. , Department of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, University Avenue West 200, Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada

    Peter A. Hall

Highlights

Highlights

  • The relationship between alcohol consumption and self-regulation is bi-directional.

  • Although there is a genetic component to executive function, individual level self-regulation interventions have been moderately effective in changing alcohol consumption.

  • Population-based interventions to improve self-regulation are now warranted, which may improve self-control over alcohol consumption at a more widespread level.

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Mullan, B. (2013). Alcohol Consumption and Self-Regulation. In: Hall, P. (eds) Social Neuroscience and Public Health. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6852-3_7

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  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6852-3

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