Drink monitoring for self and others: precollege drinkers and the Bad-Habit-Formation Hypothesis. (4th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen, Jakob D.; John, Kevin K.; Freeman, Jason; Carcioppolo, Nick; Pokharel, Manusheela
• Is Part Of: Addiction research & theory. Volume 27:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 198
• Page End: 203
• Publication Date: 2019-05-04
• Subjects: Precollege drinking -- high school drinking -- bad-habit-formation hypothesis -- learning-from-experience hypothesis -- drink monitoring; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Compulsive behavior -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1080/16066359.2018.1476499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1606-6359

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Past research has demonstrated that precollege alcohol consumption is related to college alcohol consumption. But whether precollege drinking is also related to drinking-related behaviors, such as drink monitoring, is unknown. Some have argued that precollege drinking, as a form of experience, should be related to the performance of positive drinking-related behaviors ( learning-from-experience hypothesis ) whereas others have argued that, given the environment of precollege drinkers, it should be related to negative drinking-related behaviors ( bad-habit-formation hypothesis ). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of college students ( n = 284) at a large Midwestern university in the U.S. Participants completed measures of precollege drinking, college drinking, fraternity membership, and responsible drinking behaviors. Results: Precollege drinkers were more likely to engage in college drinking; the former explained 12% of the variance in the College Drinking Scale, above and beyond other predictors. Precollege drinkers were less likely to monitor their own alcohol consumption or the consumption of their friends. Conclusions: Precollege drinkers were less likely to monitor their own drinking and the drinking of friends, consistent with the bad-habit-formation hypothesis ; that is, the notion that early drinking experiences cultivate the formation of irresponsible drinking behaviors.