Identifying the organization and contribution of various influences on college drinking serves an important role in universities implementing effective prevention and intervention efforts. A recent study tested two alternative models of the influences of personality trait (self-control, neuroticism), drinking motives (enhancement, coping), role-based factors (investment, satisfaction, stress), and partying decision making on alcohol consumption among college students. The two tested models included a direct and an indirect model. In the direct model, the authors hypothesized that all influences (personality traits, role-based factors, drinking motives) would directly predict partying decisions and alcohol consumption. In the indirect model, it was hypothesized that the influences of personality trait and role-based factors would indirectly predict alcohol consumption via mediators that included drinking motives and partying decisions. To evaluate the fit of each model, the study recruited undergraduate students with heterogenous alcohol prevalences (n=355). Participants self-reported measures of personality traits, drinking motives, role-based factors, role-based partying scenarios, and completed a weekly alcohol consumption interview. Modeling results favored the indirect model such that the association between trait self-control and consumption was mediated by drinking motives and partying decisions; the association between neuroticism and consumption was mediated by coping motives; and lastly, the association between role investment and consumption was mediated by partying decisions. Take Away: The authors suggest these findings support disinhibitory and distress pathways to excessive college drinking.  As a result, the authors suggest that additional effective prevention or intervention strategies may include normative enhancement exercises, or implementing enhanced scenario training modules for problematic drinkers.

 

Bogg, T., Lasecki, L., & Vo, P. T. (2016). School investment, drinking motives, and high-risk, high-reward partying decisions mediate the relationship between trait self-control and alcohol consumption among college drinkers. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs77(1), 133-142.