Problematic Alcohol Use and Decision-Making in High-Functioning Young Adults: roles of Fluid Intelligence, Risk Perception and Sex.

BACKGROUND

Problematic alcohol use is common in young adults and may influence decision-making processes, yet evidence in non-clinical populations remains limited. This study examined whether problematic alcohol use predicts decision-making performance in high-functioning young adults, and whether this relationship is moderated by sex.

METHODS

A total of 133 participants (18-25 years) completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the DOSPERT-30 health/safety risk perception subscale (RP-HS), the WAIS-IV Matrix Reasoning subtest to assess fluid intelligence (Gf), and a computerized Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). A multiple linear regression model was used to predict IGT from AUDIT, Gf, and RP-HS. Moderation by sex was tested via the AUDIT × Sex interaction.

RESULTS

Higher AUDIT scores were associated with poorer IGT performance, whereas Gf positively predicted performance. RP-HS showed a modest negative association. Supplementary analyses indicated that this association was driven primarily by the AUDIT dependence symptoms domain. The relationship between problematic alcohol use and decision-making was moderated by sex, with the association observed primarily in men.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide novel evidence that even non-clinical problematic alcohol use is associated with disadvantageous decision-making in high-functioning young adults, particularly in men.