Use of Alcohol and Impulsivity During Adolescence: A Systematic Review
Author(s): Filipe Reis Teodoro Andrade*, Maísa Gelain Marin and Rosa Maria Martins de Almeida
Abstract
Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify empirical studies that have been done to explore: the instruments that were used to assess impulsivity; the characteristics of the studies, such as origin, cultural aspects, binge drinking; and to verify if greater impulsivity is thought to increase the risk for alcohol use.
Method: PRISMA systematic review search was conducted in the following five databases: PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, Scopus, and Psycnet. Some inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the studies, and 14 were analyzed independently.
Results: The results showed that the most used instrument to assess impulsivity was Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). Some studies have been developed in Brazil and the United States of America, and some have explored other variables, such as family, hopelessness, binge drinking, aggressiveness, and other addictive substances.
Conclusion: In brief, considering impulsive adolescents, it is necessary to have more studies to understand how alcohol consumption can increase behaviors indicative of possible aggression, delinquency or impulsive risk, and hopelessness. In the analyzed studies, it was concluded that for measures of impulsivity, the Barratt Scale (BIS) was the most used and trustable instrument in different countries.
