Explanations for substance use : The role of explicit and implicit compensatory health beliefs and personality for alcohol/nicotine-related risk-behavior

Research already showed that substance use-related CHBs (SU-CHBs) play a predicting role in substance use. These conclusions were commonly based on explicit measures but less is known about the value of implicit SU-CHBs measures in this context. Using a sample of young German students, this study examined the associations between implicit as well as explicit SU-CHBs and alcohol/nicotine-related behaviors. Since earlier studies described substance use especially as expression of impulsivity and sensation seeking, it was further analyzed if the relationships between implicit SU-CHBs as well as explicit SU-CHBs and alcohol/nicotine-related behavior vary with the magnitude of these personality facets.