Alcohol Abuse and Prospective Memory in 
Young Adults With and Without Childhood 
Trauma: The Moderating Role of Psychological 
Inflexibility.

BACKGROUND

Alcohol abuse continues to be a major concern among young adults aged 18-25, contributing to a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioural impairments. One critical area of cognitive functioning affected by alcohol is prospective memory, the ability to remember and execute intended future actions. Individuals with a history of childhood trauma are at increased risk for alcohol misuse and associated cognitive challenges. Psychological inflexibility, defined as difficulty adapting to distressing internal experiences, may further exacerbate these effects but remains underexplored as a moderating variable.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the moderating role of psychological inflexibility in the relationship between alcohol abuse and prospective memory in young adults with and without childhood trauma.

METHODS

A total of 250 young adults (125 with childhood trauma and 125 without), aged 18-25, were selected using purposive sampling from educational institutions and community centres in Delhi NCR. Participants completed standardised self-report instruments, including the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ), and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent samples t-tests, multiple regression, and moderation analysis using the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

RESULTS

Analyses revealed significant associations among alcohol abuse, psychological inflexibility, and prospective memory difficulties. Notable group differences emerged between trauma and non-trauma participants. Psychological inflexibility moderated the relationship between alcohol abuse and prospective memory, with higher inflexibility linked to greater impairment.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that psychological inflexibility intensifies alcohol-related cognitive difficulties, highlighting its importance as a target for interventions aimed at the vulnerable youth population.