%0 Journal Article
%T Alcoholics Anonymous Attendance, Decreases in Impulsivity, and Drinking and Psychosocial Outcomes over 16 Years: Moderated-Mediation from a Developmental Perspective
%J Addiction
%D 2011
%A Moos, Rudolf H.
%A Moos, Bernice S.
%A Finney, John W.
%A Timko, Christine
%A Blonigen, Daniel M.
%V 106
%N 12
%P 2167-2177
%X Aims:  Examine whether decreases in impulsivity account for links between AA attendance and better drinking and psychosocial outcomes, and whether these mediational "effects" are conditional on age. Design:  A naturalistic study in which individuals were assessed at baseline, and 1, 8, and 16 years later. Setting:  Participants initiated help-seeking through the alcohol intervention system (detoxification programs, information and referral centers). Participants:  Individuals with alcohol use disorders and no prior history of substance abuse treatment at baseline [N= 628; 47% women; mean age = 34.7 years (SD = 9.4)]. Measurements:  Self-reports of impulsivity and drinking pattern at baseline and Year 1, duration of AA (number of weeks) in Year 1, and drinking (alcohol use problems, self-efficacy to resist drinking) and psychosocial outcomes (emotional discharge coping, social support) at baseline and follow-ups. Findings:  Controlling for changes in drinking pattern, decreases in impulsivity were associated with fewer alcohol use problems, better coping, and greater social support and self-efficacy at Year 1, and better coping and greater social support at Year 8. Decreases in impulsivity statistically mediated associations between longer AA duration and improvements on all Year 1 outcomes, and indirect effects were moderated by participant age (significant only for individuals 25 years of age or younger). Conclusions:  Decreased impulsivity appears to mediate reductions in alcohol-related problems over 8 years in people attending Alcoholics Anonymous.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 0965-2140
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2011.03522.x