The current study also provided evidence for indirect effects of family history and impulsivity on the frequency of heavy drinking operating through AO. Although these results were based on post hoc analyses and require replication, they suggest that AO may be one mechanism through which trait risk factors influence drinking behavior. Future research may benefit from considering the complex relationship among trait risk factors, AO, and drinking outcomes (e.g., mediation models) rather than simply controlling for trait risk factors.
