Attitude toward heavy drinking as a key longitudinal predictor of alcohol consumption and problems. (20th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: DiBello, Angelo M.; Hatch, Melissa R.; Miller, Mary Beth; Mastroleo, Nadine R.; Carey, Kate B.
• Is Part Of: Alcoholism. Volume 46:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 682
• Page End: 694
• Publication Date: 2022-03-20
• Subjects: alcohol -- attitudes -- college students -- drinking -- social norms; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Alcoolisme; Electronic journals; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.861005
• DOI: 10.1111/acer.14800
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-6008

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Little research has considered the importance of a person's attitude toward heavy drinking when evaluated against other well‐known predictors of alcohol use and related harm including drinking motives and drinker identity. The current study aimed to evaluate whether one's favorable attitude toward heavy drinking is a unique predictor of prospectively assessed drinking‐related outcomes when considered against descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking intentions, drinking motives, and drinker identity. Methods: Participants in the current study comprised mandated students ( n = 374; 54% male) who violated a campus alcohol policy and received a brief intervention (eCHECKUP TO GO). Analyses included the use of negative binomial regression to examine baseline predictors— attitude toward heavy drinking, perceived descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking intentions, drinking motives, and drinker identity—of prospective alcohol use outcomes and alcohol‐related problems 1 month later. Results: We found that one's attitude toward heavy drinking remains a significant predictor of binge frequency, peak drinking, and alcohol‐related problems when accounting for norms, intentions, motives, and identity. Conclusions: This study has important theoretical and intervention implications. Indeed, the finding that one's attitude toward heavy drinking remains a significant predictor of alcohol‐related outcomes when intentions are included in the model has implications within the theory of planned behavior. Furthermore, attitude toward heavy drinking has predictive utility when considered against descriptive and injunctive norms, drinking motives, and drinker identity. These findings contribute to a growing literature suggesting that attitudes could be an important intervention target when the goal is to change drinking behavior. Abstract : One's attitude toward heavy drinking is an important determinant of alcohol use and associated problems but more work is needed to look at the predictive utility of ones attitude toward heavy drinking in the context of other well known predictors of alcohol use and problems. This work suggests that ones attitude toward heavy drinking is a significant and positive predictor of prospective alcohol use when compared to social norms, drinking motives, and drinker identity.