Alcohol use variability in a community-based sample of nonstudent emerging adult heavy drinkers. (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lau-Barraco, Cathy; Braitman, Abby L.; Stamates, Amy L.; Linden-Carmichael, Ashley N.
• Is Part Of: American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. Volume 42:Number 6(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 698
• Page End: 706
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Alcohol -- daily drinking -- nonstudents -- noncollege -- expectancies -- motives -- norms; Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2016.1183671
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2990

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : While nonstudent emerging adults are at elevated risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems, there remains a paucity of research devoted specifically to addressing drinking in this group. Objectives : The present study sought to offer unique insights into nonstudent drinking by examining drinking variability across 30 days using a retrospective diary method. Specific aims were to: (1) compare within- and between-person variability in alcohol use across 30 days, and (2) determine the extent to which central social-cognitive between-person factors (i.e., social expectancies, perceived drinking norms, social drinking motivations) predict between-person alcohol use as well as within-person variability in drinking. Methods : Participants were 195 (65.1% men) nonstudent emerging adults recruited from the community with a mean age of 21.9 ( SD = 2.1) years. Results : Findings showed that a substantial portion of variation in daily alcohol consumption was attributable to the within-person (83%) rather than between-person (17.2%) level. Social expectancies, perceived drinking norms, and social motives were found to influence variability in daily alcohol consumption. Conclusion : Our findings contribute to knowledge that could guide efforts to design and tailor intervention strategies to minimize the harms experienced by an understudied and at-risk population of drinkers.