Examining the Role of Executive Functions on the Intention-Behavior Gap of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategy Use.

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are health behaviors that minimize the likelihood or severity of consequences associated with alcohol use; however, these strategies are inconsistently used. One potential explanation for this lack of consistent use is a discrepancy between the intention to drink safely and actually drinking safely, termed the intention-behavior gap. Some drinkers have the intention to drink safely but lack the ability to effectively initiate and execute the harm reduction behaviors. As such, executive functions (EF: cognitive abilities associated with goal-directed behavior) may be one individual difference factor that helps identify for whom these "gaps" are greater or smaller.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using ecological momentary assessment, this study explored the extent to which an intention-behavior gap in PBS use exists among college student drinkers (n = 77) and investigated how potential individual differences in EF (i.e., working memory, set-shifting, and inhibition) moderated the intention-behavior gap. Daily monitoring assessments contained brief measures of intention to use PBS, actual strategy use, and alcohol-related behaviors, and were assessed daily for 21 days.

RESULTS: Multilevel model analyses revealed that although intention to use strategies predicted actual strategy use, measures of EF did not significantly moderate the relationship.

DISCUSSION: Efforts to increase intentions to use PBS should be included in alcohol use prevention and intervention programs for all drinkers, regardless of differences in EF ability.