Young adults face significant risks from alcohol use, including impaired academic performance, risky sexual behaviors, and mental health challenges that are particularly amplified in college environments where students encounter increased social pressure, reduced oversight, and greater alcohol access. Prior research consistently linked two key psychological factors—impulsivity and reward sensitivity—to greater alcohol use and related consequences. Therefore, the present study aims to (1) identify distinct profiles of impulsivity (positive urgency, negative urgency, sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance) and reward sensitivity and (2) explore whether these profiles were associated with alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences.
The study included 291 undergraduate students from 4-year institutions in the state of Rhode Island, who had consumed at least once in the past month. An online survey was administered assessing typical alcohol use measured via the Daily Drinking Questionnaire, alcohol-related consequences measured via the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire, impulsivity measured via the Short UPPS-P, and reward sensitivity measured via Behavioral Inhibition Systems and Behavioral Activation System scale. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was employed. For Aim 1, profiles were created based on five impulsivity dimensions and reward sensitivity, with model fit determined using multiple criteria: AIC, BIC, and SSA-BIC for model comparison; LMR adjusted likelihood ratio test for significances; entropy values for classification accuracy; and minimum group size requirements. For Aim 2, the BCH method was used to examine differences in alcohol use quantity and consequences across the identified profiles.
The study identified five distinct profiles: Profile 1 (33.5%) had the lowest urgency, sensation seeking, premeditation, moderate perseverance, and low reward sensitivity; Profile 2 (7.3%) had the highest urgency, sensation seeking, and reward sensitivity, and low premeditation, and lowest perseverance; Profile 3 (17.8%) had moderate urgency and sensation seeking, low pre meditation and perseverance, and high reward sensitivity; Profile 4 (6.9%) had high urgency, sensation seeking, perseverance, highest premeditation, and moderate reward sensitivity; and Profile 5 (34.7%) had low urgency and sensation seeking, highest perseverance, high premeditation, and lowest reward sensitivity. Profile 4 demonstrated significantly higher alcohol use than Profiles 1, 3, and 5, and greater alcohol-related consequences than Profiles 1 and 5, suggesting that individuals high on all impulsivity facets and reward sensitivity may be at greatest risk for alcohol use and related consequences.
Takeaway: College students with high levels of impulsivity and reward sensitivity may face the greatest risk for alcohol use and related consequences.