Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Previous research has shown a relationship between social anxiety-the fear of being negatively evaluated in social situations-and alcohol use. Further, impulsivity plays an important role in this relationship. Specifically, socially anxious people with impulsive personalities are more likely to use alcohol to deal with their anxiety than those who are less impulsive. However, these studies have not taken into account the different dimensions of impulsivity. For instance, impulsivity can manifest itself as failing to plan ahead or lacking the ability to persevere. These studies also typically rely on alcohol craving measures rather than actual alcohol consumption. The proposed research project will investigate which dimensions of impulsivity are most likely to lead people to self-medicate with alcohol when they are socially anxious. To do so, we will measure how much alcohol participants drink after facing a stressful social event. First, we will measure how socially anxious and impulsive participants are using questionnaires. Impulsivity will be measured according to its various dimensions. In one condition, participants will then complete a public speaking task to induce social anxiety. In the other condition, participants will complete a task that does not induce any anxiety. After these tasks, all participants will rate their levels of anxiety and alcohol cravings in a laboratory bar while alcoholic beverages are prepared in front of them. They will be permitted to drink as much alcohol as they want. This study will enable us to see which dimension of impulsivity best predicts the quantity of alcohol participants consume when they feel socially anxious. This information will help shape treatments for alcohol dependence in socially anxious people.