Background Early low-level alcohol use predicts subsequent alcohol use and problems. Impulsivity and poor inhibitory control also predict later problematic alcohol use. However, few studies prospectively examine early sipping in combination with modeling impulsivity and inhibitory control change over time as predictors of adolescent alcohol use.

Methods Data Release 6.0 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study was used (n=11,866; 48% Female). A series of linear mixed-effect models examined trajectories of non-religious sipping at baseline (ages 9-10) and self-reported impulsivity (UPPS-P) and task-based inhibitory control (Flanker task) over time as predictors of past year drinks and problematic alcohol use by ages 15-16. Predictors were run as separate models and a full model with all predictors together. Models were nested within the participant and study site. Interactions with age (to measure change over time from Baseline to Year 6) were included. Corrections for multiple comparisons were employed.

Results In individual models, four impulsivity interactions were significant: (1) negative urgency*age (β=.04, FDR-p<.001), (2) positive urgency*age (β=.04, FDR-p<.001), (3) lack of planning*age (β=.04, FDR-p<.001), and (4) sensation seeking*age (β=.04, FDR-p<.001), suggesting that as age increases, the relationship between impulsivity and alcohol use strengthens. Sipping*age (β=.02, FDR-p<.001) interactions also predicted standard drinks. Regarding problematic use, there was a significant interaction in the full model: negative urgency*age (β=-.07, p=.05), indicating that this relationship is more pronounced at earlier ages.

Conclusions Trait impulsivity and sipping in late childhood relate to future alcohol use, and the relationship strengthens with age. Our results found a negative interaction between negative urgency and age on problematic use, potentially indicating negative urgency as a phenotype of vulnerability to experiencing alcohol related problems at younger ages. Findings indicate the importance of understanding facets of impulsivity in the context of adolescent alcohol use for prevention and intervention efforts.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

This project was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under award number T32 AA013525 (VS). This project was also supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse under award number F31 DA061618 (ED), K08 DA062011 (ALW), F32 DA064409 (RMS), and (DA050779, PI: Wade). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. The ABCD Study is supported by the National Institutes of Health and additional federal partners under award numbers: U01DA041048, U01DA050989, U01DA051016, U01DA041022, U01DA051018, U01DA051037, U01DA050987, U01DA041174, U01DA041106, U01DA041117, U01DA041028, U01DA041134, U01DA050988, U01DA051039, U01DA041156, U01DA041025, U01DA041120, U01DA051038, U01DA041148, U01DA041093, U01DA041089, U24DA041123, U24DA041147. A full list of supporters is available at Federal Partners - ABCD Study.

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As a multi-site study with UC San Diego as the coordinating center, all sites rely on UCSD's IRB. UC San Diego's ABCD protocol number is #160091 ("The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study: UC San Diego").Initial approval was issued Nov 01, 2020, with annual renewal sought.

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