Impulsivity partially mediates the association between reduced working memory capacity and alcohol problems

Although alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have been associated with impulsive personality traits and reduced working memory capacity (WMC), less is known about the nature of their interrelationships. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that low WMC is associated with both impulsive personality and alcohol problems, and that impulsive personality mediates the association between low WMC and alcohol problems. Measures of impulsive personality, WMC, and alcohol problems were assessed in a sample of young adults (N = 474), that varied widely in severity of alcohol problems, 57% of whom had alcohol dependence. Simple correlations revealed that WMC, impulsive personality traits, and alcohol problems were all significantly related. Structural equation models (SEMs) showed that impulsivity partially mediated the association between WMC and alcohol problems. Although directionality cannot be determined from these cross-sectional data, the results suggest that reduced WMC may promote impulsivity, which in turn, predisposes to alcohol problems.