Approach and Avoidance Inclinations Among College Drinkers: Moderating Effect of Personality, Drinking History, and Sex

<i>Background:</i> The Ambivalence Model of Craving defines craving as the co-activation of both the desire to use (approach) and the desire to avoid (avoidance) consuming alcohol, which are posited to develop as the result of both historical and current factors, including personality characteristics and the positive and negative consequences associated with use. Although approach and avoidance inclinations have been found to predict various clinical outcomes, few studies have examined factors associated with their development. <i>Objectives:</i> This study sought to examine the association between personality characteristics, drinking histories, and approach/avoidance inclinations, including how biological sex may moderate these relationships. Undergraduate students (<i>N</i> = 649) who were regular drinkers (i.e., drink at least 2-3 times per month) completed self-report measures of sensitivity to reward (RS) and punishment (PS), alcohol approach and avoidance inclinations, and drinking behaviors. <i>Results:</i> Multiple linear regression analyses indicated a significant Sex X RS X Drinks/week interaction for approach inclinations. Results indicated a significant difference between males and females at low, but not high, RS when interacting with drinking behavior to predict approach inclinations. Results also indicated a significant Sex X PS X Alcohol Problems interaction for avoidance inclinations. Specifically, a positive association between alcohol problems and avoidance was found for males high on PS, but not low. Among females, alcohol problems were associated with avoidance regardless of PS. Conclusions: These results illustrate the importance of personality characteristics and drinking histories, as well as biological sex, on alcohol approach and avoidance inclinations among college students.