College Alcohol Beliefs and Alcohol Outcomes: The Mediating Effects of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies. (12th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lemoine, Promise G.; Whitley, Robert B.; Jordan, Hallie R.; Madson, Michael B.
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 55:Number 14(2020)
• Page Start: 2389
• Page End: 2394
• Publication Date: 2020-09-12
• Subjects: Protective behavioral strategies -- college alcohol beliefs -- hazardous drinking -- alcohol-related negative consequences -- college students; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1817085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The present study examined the mediating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (i.e. serious harm reduction [PBS-SHR], manner of drinking [PBS-MOD], stopping/limiting drinking [PBS-SLD]) on the relationships between college alcohol beliefs and alcohol outcomes (i.e. hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences) in an attempt to replicate recent findings in the early stages of college alcohol belief and PBS research. Methods: Participants were 625 traditional age undergraduate college students ( M = 19.00, SD = 1.72; 63.7% White; 80.7% female) recruited from a southeastern United States university who reported past 30-day alcohol consumption. All participants completed measures of college alcohol beliefs, alcohol PBS use, hazardous drinking, and alcohol-related negative consequences through an online survey. Results: Higher college alcohol beliefs were associated with greater hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. Further, PBS-MOD mediated the positive relationship college alcohol beliefs had with hazardous drinking, such that higher college alcohol beliefs predicted less PBS-MOD use which was associated with greater hazardous drinking. Discussion: These findings provide further evidence to support previous findings highlighting the additional protective value of certain alcohol PBS especially for college students with high college alcohol beliefs.