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Original article
Available online 26 May 2024
Relationships Between Alcohol Consumption and Violence: The Role of Empathy and the Executive Function
Relaciones entre consumo de alcohol y violencia: el papel de la empatía y la función ejecutiva
Mariana Beatriz Lópeza,
Corresponding author
mb.lopez@conicet.gov.ar

Corresponding author.
, María Cristina Richaudb
a Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, CONICET, for its Spanish Acronym)/Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud y del Comportamiento (Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences, CIICSAC) – Universidad Adventista del Plata, 25 de mayo 99, PC: 3103, Libertador San Martín, Entre Ríos, Argentina
b Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)/Instituto de Ciencias para la familia (Institute of Family Sciences, ICF) – Universidad Austral, Mariano Acosta 1611, PC: B1630FHB, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Figures (1)
Tables (4)
Table 1. Alcohol consumption patterns.
Table 2. Performance of each group of drinkers in Empathy and Executive functions.
Table 3. Correlations.
Table 4. Comparison of explanatory models of the relationship between alcohol consumption and violence.
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Abstract
Introduction

Alcohol consumption has been linked to increased aggressiveness and to different types of violence. It has been suggested that both the empathic disposition and the executive function (EF) are mediators and moderators of aggression in alcoholic patients and during alcohol intoxication. In this work, we analyze the cognitive-affective profile that mediates or modulates the relationship between alcohol consumption and violence in social drinkers.

Methods

An intentional sample of adults (aged 21–65; n=393) was assessed through an online platform. Usual alcohol consumption patterns were assessed and the following standardized instruments were included: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RME), to assess dimensions of empathy; Adult Executive Inventory (ADEXI) and Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), to assess dimensions of EF. The cognitive-affective profile of the participants, classified according to their usual alcohol consumption patterns, was analyzed through ANOVA. Following that, several models of the relationship between alcohol consumption, the cognitive-affective variables and violence were tested through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

Results

Significant differences were found among alcohol abstainers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers and heavy drinkers in the variables working memory F(3.389)=3.32; p=.022, inhibition F(3.389)=8.89; p<.000 and perspective taking F(3.389)=6.62; p<.000. According to the post hoc testing, the differences in working memory, inhibition and perspective taking were significant among the group of heavy drinkers and the other drinkers groups, but not between abstainers, light and moderate drinkers. The SEM which showed better fit was the one in which inhibition mediates or modulates the relationship between alcohol consumption and violence (CMIN/DF=1.890; CFI=926; RMSEA=.048).

Conclusions

The deficit in cognitive functions, particularly in the inhibitory response, constitutes a key factor in understanding the violence linked to alcohol consumption and, in a more general way, the social conflicts among people who drink alcohol.

Keywords:
Alcohol consumption
Empathy
Executive functions
Violence
Social drinkers
Resumen
Introducción

El consumo de alcohol se ha relacionado con una mayor agresividad y con diferentes tipos de violencia. Se ha sugerido que tanto la disposición empática como la función ejecutiva (FE) son mediadores y moderadores de la agresión en pacientes alcohólicos y durante la intoxicación alcohólica. En este trabajo analizamos el perfil cognitivo-afectivo que media o modula la relación entre consumo de alcohol y violencia en bebedores sociales.

Método

Se entrevistó a una muestra intencional de adultos (21 a 65 años; n=393) a través de una plataforma en línea. Se evaluaron los patrones habituales de consumo de alcohol y se incluyeron los siguientes instrumentos estandarizados: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT); Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) y Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RME), para evaluar dimensiones de empatía; Adult Executive Inventory (ADEXI) y Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS), para evaluar dimensiones de las FE. El perfil cognitivo-afectivo de los participantes, clasificados según sus patrones habituales de consumo de alcohol, se analizó mediante la escala ANOVA. Posteriormente, se probaron varios modelos de la relación entre el consumo de alcohol, las variables cognitivo-afectivas y la violencia a través de Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales (SEM).

Resultados

Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre abstemios, bebedores leves, bebedores moderados y bebedores fuertes en las variables Memoria de Trabajo F (3.389)=3.32; p=0,022, Inhibición F (3.389)=8,89; p<0,000 y Toma de Perspectiva F (3.389)=6,62; p<0,000. De acuerdo con las pruebas post hoc, las diferencias en Memoria de Trabajo, Inhibición y Toma de Perspectiva fueron significativas entre el grupo de bebedores fuertes y los otros grupos de bebedores, pero no entre abstemios, bebedores leves y bebedores moderados. El SEM que mostró mejor ajuste fue aquel en el que la Inhibición modula la relación entre el consumo de alcohol y la violencia (CMIN/DF=1.890; CFI=926; RMSEA=0,048).

Conclusiones

El déficit en las funciones cognitivas, particularmente en la respuesta inhibitoria, constituye un factor clave para comprender la violencia ligada al consumo de alcohol y, de manera más general, los conflictos sociales entre las personas que beben alcohol.

Palabras clave:
Consumo de alcohol
Empatía
Funciones ejecutivas
Violencia
Bebedores sociales

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