Research shows alcohol use can be used to regulate positive and negative affect and this may depend on motivational and contextual factors. Previous research suggests drinking motives can be categorized based on source and valence. The current study looks at affective, motivational and behavioral factors for drinking episodes over time.
Participants included 906 college students that completed an initial Wave 1 survey and then if eligible, completed a post-college Wave 2 survey. To qualify for Wave 2 participants had to report at least one heavy drinking day in both initial and daily surveys of Wave 1. The first measure was daytime affect which was assessed by asking participants to indicate which 18 adjectives described how they felt that day. Evening alcohol consumption was assessed by asking how many alcoholic beverages they consumed alone and with others the previous evening. Finally, evening drinking motives were assessed by asking participants about 11 items and which described why they drank the night before. These items included drinking to cope, drinking to conform, social motives, and enhancement motives.
Social drinking was found to be more frequent among younger, male, and White participants. Increased positive affect during the day was found to correlate to more social consumption that night. Greater than average conformity motives correlated to more social consumption. Drinking to cope increased social consumption during college, but not after. Drinking to enhance increased social consumption after college. Drinking to cope was associated with solitary consumption after college. One last finding was college student who had less daytime positive effect participated in more solitary drinking when not socially motivated. All these findings show these associates are not incredibly straightforward and future research should look at episode-specific drinking motives.
Take Away: The current study looks at affective, motivational and behavioral factors for drinking episodes over time. Participants included 906 college students that completed an initial Wave 1 survey and then if eligible, completed a post-college Wave 2 survey. Measures included daytime affect, evening alcohol consumption, and evening drinking motives. Increased positive affect during the day was found to correlate to more social consumption that night. Drinking to enhance increased social consumption after college. Drinking to cope was associated with solitary consumption after college. One last finding was college student who had less daytime positive effect participated in more solitary drinking when not socially motivated. Findings show these associates are not incredibly straightforward and future research should look at episode-specific drinking motives.