Are my peers impulsive? Normative perceptions of impulsivity and associations with personal impulsivity and alcohol use outcomes

The present study examined whether individuals perceived their peers' impulsivity as different from their own impulsivity and if perceptions of peers' impulsivity moderated the associations between personal impulsivity and alcohol use and consequences. Participants were 291 college student drinkers. An online survey assessed impulsivity, peer norms of impulsivity, and alcohol use. T-tests and hierarchical regressions examined associations. Peer impulsivity (i.e., negative/positive urgency, lack of premeditation/perseverance) norms were generally higher than personal impulsivity, except for sensation seeking. Individuals with greater personal lack of premeditation tended to consume more alcohol, and having higher peer lack of premeditation norms strengthened this relationship. Only greater peer lack of premeditation norms was associated with greater consequences. Findings suggested that individuals generally perceived peer impulsivity to be higher than their own impulsivity. There was some support that peer impulsivity norms (i.e., lack of premeditation) were related to personal alcohol outcomes.