The relationship between affective associations with alcohol and binge drinking

This article explores the relationship between affective associations with alcohol and binge drinking. Prior research on the proximal determinants of alcohol consumption has typically focused on cognitive factors such as outcome expectancies, leaving aside affect (i.e. emotional factors). Participants in this study were a random, nationally representative sample of Swedes aged between 18 and 70 (n = 1623, response rate 54%). The results showed that affective associations with alcohol are related to binge drinking, even after controlling for gender, age, education, family situation and perceived risk. This article concludes that affective associations probably should be considered in explanatory frameworks of alcohol consumption, although more research is needed on the causal relationship of affective associations to drinking habits.