Executive Functions and Substance Use in Young Adults: The Potential Role of Various Moderators

Substance use is a serious problem among young adults. Previous research has examined whether lower executive functions (EF) increase the risk of excessive substance use and related problem experiences during young adulthood. However, the findings are inconsistent whether EF abilities are acting as protective factors, risk factors, or associated at all with substance use and related problems. The current study has two aims. The first is to examine the relationship between EF (updating, inhibition, set-shifting) and substance use and related problems (cannabis and alcohol). The second is to examine whether various moderators, specifically gender role beliefs, affect (positive and negative affect), and substance use motives, influence this relationship. Participants, young adults from a university and Prolific, an online research platform, will be asked to complete neurocognitive tasks online to assess their inhibition to prepotent response (“Inhibition”), information updating and monitoring (“Updating”), and mental set shifting (“Shifting”). Additionally, they will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires assessing their positive and negative affect within the past week, substance use motives, gender role beliefs, demographics, and cannabis and alcohol use and related problems. We expect those with better EF abilities (higher inhibition, shifting, and updating) to engage in lower frequency and quantity of alcohol and cannabis and have fewer substance-related problems. Those with poorer EF are expected to engage in substance use more frequently and at higher quantities and experience more substance-related problems if they are experiencing higher negative affect. Additionally, the relationship between EF abilities and substance use is expected to be weaker among those with higher positive affect. Furthermore, those with poorer EF abilities are expected to engage in substances more frequently and in higher quantities if they have higher substance use motives. Finally, better EF abilities will be associated with higher substance use engagement and related problem experiences among those who adhere to more traditional gender roles.