Impulsivity has repeatedly been identified as an important determinant of alcohol use and problems (Dick et al., 2010, Lejuez et al., 2010, Zucker et al., 2011) (unless otherwise differentiated, we hereafter refer to” alcohol use and problems” as alcohol involvement). According to Stephen et al (Stephen P. Whiteside and Lynam, 2001) trait Impulsivity is a multidimensional behavioral construct which includes at least four different component traits: urgency (impulsiveness in NEO_PI), sensation seeking, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance. These subscales show differential relations with alcohol involvement. Specific to alcohol problems, Magid & Colder (Magid and Colder, 2007) found in a group of non-abstaining undergraduates that those with both high scores on the UPPS (Whiteside et al., 2005) urgency subscale (impulsiveness in the NEO) and low scores on perseverance had a higher level of alcohol problems. Both the urgency scale in the UPPS impulsivity scale and the NEO-impulsiveness (Costa PTJ, 1992) measure impulsive behaviors under conditions of negative affect which can be motivated by a coping strategy involving use of alcohol to deal with emotional distress, often with disregard for negative consequences (Dawe et al., 2004).
