Finally, the studies reviewed in this section indicate the importance of considering the interactive roles of emotion, affect regulation, and biological factors in the relationship between impulsivity and alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Consistent and standardized methodologies should be used across studies, to investigate the complex interaction between the factors. Moreover, real-time assessments involving either behavioral tasks or experiential sampling are to be preferred over retrospective or subjective self-assessments, as they enable real examination of how emotion and affective factors may influence responding in the moment. Additionally, assessments of relations between affect and behavior should be completed in more heterogeneous subjects samples (older, nonstudent, psychiatrically more complex), and for longer assessment periods to gain a more thorough understanding of these relationships.
