For college students, the transition from adolescence to adulthood may introduce many difficulties including increased academic demands, greater stress levels, and navigating new social networks. These factors may put college students at an increased risk of problematic alcohol use. Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are harm reduction strategies designed to reduce alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences. The Health Behavioral Model (HBM) suggests that one’s likelihood of adopting PBS is based on perceived susceptibility to and severity of adverse health events and the benefits and barriers of engaging in the health behavior. This study examines the relationship between alcohol outcomes and perceived PBS effectiveness in the context of HBM among college students.
The study’s sample consisted of 694 college students. Participants were asked to report alcohol use frequency, quantity, and heavy episodic use to assess for alcohol use disorders. Alcohol-related problems were assessed using the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire. Three subtypes of PBS were also measured: manner of drinking (MD), stopping/limiting drinking (SLD), and serious harm reduction strategies (SHR). Participants were asked to describe their engagement in these PBS during the past 3 months. Lastly, perceived effectiveness of PBS was assessed. Data was analyzed using a latent variable path model.
Results of the data analysis showed that women used more PBS strategies than men across all three subtypes. Perceived PBS effectiveness was associated with a greater likelihood of using PBS subtypes. The simple indirect effects between PBS effectiveness and alcohol consumption through MD and SLD PBS were negative and statistically significant while SHR PBS was positive and statistically significant. However, the overall indirect effect from PBS effectiveness to alcohol consumption was negative and statistically significant. In regards to alcohol-related consequences, PBS effectiveness was not found to be directly related. However, it was found to be indirectly negatively related to alcohol problems via SHR, MD, and SLD PBS.
Takeaway: Perceptions of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) effectiveness may lead to more use of PBS, decreased alcohol consumption, and fewer alcohol-related consequences among college students.