Alcohol use and problem severity: associations with dual systems of self-control.

Objective: The current study tested the associations between a dual-systems model of self-control and alcohol use and problem severity.

Method: The sample consisted of 491 college students (77.0% women) from a rural state university. Participants completed a series of online surveys that assessed aspects of self-control, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related problems.

Results: A confirmatory factor analysis model indicated two moderately correlated factors of poor control and good self-control. Poor control was positively associated with both alcohol use and problem severity. Good self-control had a negative association with problem severity. Good self-control moderated the association between poor control and alcohol use as well as between poor control and problem severity. The association between poor control and alcohol use was stronger at low levels of good self-control, whereas at high levels of good self-control, the effect of poor control was weaker and not significant. The interaction predicting problem severity was different: There was a negative association between good self-control and problem severity at low levels of poor control, and this effect diminished as poor control increased.

Conclusions: The results suggest that multidimensional models of self-control may be useful in understanding problematic alcohol use and may be beneficial for prevention and intervention efforts.