Conversations about binge drinking among vocational community college students: the relation with drinking attitudes and intentions and the moderating role of conversation partner popularity. Issue 4 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boers, Elroy; Hendriks, Hanneke; van den Putte, Bas; Beentjes, Hans
• Is Part Of: Psychology & health. Volume 35:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 481
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: interpersonal communication -- conversational valence -- popularity -- vocational community college students -- binge drinking; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; Attitude to Health -- Periodicals; Public Opinion -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2019.1649673
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-0446

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The association between conversational valence (i.e. how positive/negative people perceive their conversations to be) and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions has been well established. However, too few studies have recognised a potential reciprocal association as well as the potential role of the conversation partner. In order to address these gaps, this study explored whether conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were reciprocally associated and whether this association was moderated by conversation partner popularity. Design: Vocational community college students ( N = 112, Mage = 18.09) participated in a two-wave study (one month between the waves). Methods. Binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, and popularity were measured at baseline. At the second wave, conversational valence, and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were assessed. Results: In revealing that only conversational valence was indicative of binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, it was shown that conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes and intentions were not reciprocally associated. Furthermore, it was shown that conversation-partner popularity moderated the association between conversational valence and binge-drinking attitudes. Conclusion: Conversational valence was shown to be indicative of binge-drinking attitudes and intentions, and not vice versa. Furthermore, after talking to a popular conversation partner, adolescents' attitudes towards binge drinking became more positive.