Cited by 159Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesMindfulness and Compassion InterventionsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Living in the here and now: Interrelationships between impulsivity, mindfulness, and alcohol misuse

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Murphy, Cara, MacKillop, James·2012·Psychopharmacology

Abstract

Rationale Impulsivity and mindfulness both emphasize orientation to the present, and both have been linked to alcohol misuse, but the relationship between the two is not clearly understood.Objectives The objectives of this study are to examine the relationships between elements of impulsivity and mindfulness and to examine both variables in relation to alcohol misuse.Method Young adults (N = 116) were assessed for alcohol use, mindfulness, and impulsivity using psychometrically validated measures.Results Numerous significant associations were present among the facets of impulsivity and mindfulness. All impulsivity facets and three facets of mindfulness were related to alcohol consumption and adverse consequences from drinking. After controlling for other variables, only the impulsivity domains of Negative Urgency (NU), Positive Urgency, and delay discounting were significantly related to alcohol consumption and only Lack of Premeditation and NU were significantly associated with drinking-related consequences.Conclusions There was considerable overlap between some elements of impulsivity and mindfulness while the overlap was negligible for other facets. The associations between mindfulness and alcohol misuse were entirely a function of impulsivity. In particular, acting on impulses while experiencing a negative affect was significantly associated with level of alcohol consumption and level of alcohol-related risk. Steep discounting of future rewards was associated with alcohol consumption while poor premeditation was associated with adverse drinking consequences. These findings illustrate the importance of jointly studying impulsivity when examining mindfulness traits.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00213-011-2573-0

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  • Acting with awareness and nonreactivity to inner experience facets are negatively related to alcohol problems.

    “Further cross-sectional work revealed that the acting with awareness and nonreactivity to inner experience facets were negatively related to alcohol problems”

    From Examining the Prospective Associations Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood. (2021) · cites this paper as Murphy & MacKillop, 2012

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports an inverse association between nonreactivity and alcohol involvement, but does not identify acting with awareness among the mindfulness facets showing that association. It also does not establish that either facet was independently related to alcohol-related problems; when impulsivity was considered alongside mindfulness, mindfulness facets did not predict drinking consequences. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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  • Longitudinal designs are virtually absent in prior research in this area.

    “Longitudinal designs are virtually absent in prior research in this area (Fernandez et al., 2010; Murphy & MacKillop, 2012; Roos et al., 2015; Vinci et al., 2016).”

    From Examining the Prospective Associations Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood. (2021) · cites this paper as Murphy & MacKillop, 2012

    The Discussion (page unavailable) says this study was cross-sectional, calls for longitudinal research on whether impulsivity or mindfulness precedes alcohol misuse, and notes that few studies have examined the traits’ stability over time. This supports a gap in longitudinal evidence, but does not establish that longitudinal designs were virtually absent across prior research in the area. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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  • Emotional psychopathology mediated the pathways from acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and nonreactivity to inner experience to alcohol problems, but not alcohol use.

    “Consistent with prior work, these results have identified that the acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, or nonreactivity to inner experience facets were related to fewer alcohol problems (Fernandez et al., 2010; Murphy & MacKillop, 2012; Roos et al., 2015; Vinci et al., 2016).”

    From Examining the Prospective Associations Between Mindfulness Facets and Substance Use in Emerging Adulthood. (2021) · cites this paper as Murphy & MacKillop, 2012

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports inverse associations between nonjudging, nonreactivity, experiential awareness, and alcohol involvement, broadly supporting the citing sentence’s claim about fewer alcohol problems. It does not support the supplied claim that emotional psychopathology mediated those associations for alcohol problems but not alcohol use; instead, the Discussion says their associations with alcohol use and misuse were accounted for by aspects of impulsivity. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Nonjudging of inner experience is negatively related to alcohol use and problems.

    “in addition to the nonjudging of inner experience facet being negatively related to alcohol use and problems (Murphy & MacKillop, 2012).”
  • The relationship between dispositional mindfulness and alcohol problems can be explained partly by impulsivity and neuroticism.

    “Three papers have found that the relationship between DM and alcohol problems can be explained partly by personality traits: impulsivity and neuroticism (Christopher et al. 2013; Fetterman et al. 2010; Murphy and MacKillop 2012).”

    From Dispositional Mindfulness and Psychological Health: a Systematic Review (2018) · cites this paper as Murphy and MacKillop 2012

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Babor TF, Higgins-Biddle JC, Saunders JB, Monteiro MG (2001) The alcohol use disorders identification test: guidelines for use in primary health care (WHO Publication No. 016a). World Health Organization, Geneva

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Authors
Murphy, C., & MacKillop, J.
Affiliations
University of Georgia (US)
Corresponding author
MacKillop, James
Venue
Psychopharmacology
Published
2011-12-16
Volume
219
Issue
2
Pages
527-536
ISSN
  • 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-2072
OpenAlex
W1973997739
Cited by
159
References
43
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 4
FWCI
5.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K23AA016936)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (P30DA027827)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
impulsivity, mindfulness, alcohol abuse, negative urgency, positive urgency, delay discounting, lack of premeditation, alcohol consumption, young adults
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Female, Humans, Impulsive Behavior, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Meditation, Alcohol-Related Disorders, Young Adult

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