Protective behavioral strategies, social norms, and alcohol-related outcomes

The present study examined the unique contributions of protective behavioral strategies and social norms in predicting alcohol-related outcomes. Participants were 363 students from a large public university in the Midwest who reported at least one binge-drinking episode (5+/4+ drinks for men/women in one sitting) in the past 30 days. Data were collected from January 2010-March 2011. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to test models where protective behavioral strategies (PBS) and social norms were predictors of both alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, after controlling for the effects of gender. Both PBS and descriptive norms had relationships with alcohol use. PBS also had a relationship with alcohol-related problems. Overall, the findings suggest that PBS and social norms have unique associations with distinct alcohol-related outcomes. © 2014 Informa UK Ltd. All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted

Examining a curvilinear model of readiness to change and alcohol consumption

Research examining the relationship between readiness to change and alcohol consumption among college students is inconsistent. The purpose of the present study was to extend these findings, using two different measures of readiness to change. We hypothesized a curvilinear effect would occur such that the relationship between readiness to change and alcohol use would be relatively low for students low and high on readiness to change, whereas the relationship would be relatively high for those with moderate levels of readiness to change. Data were collected from two studies: Study 1 consisted of 263 undergraduate students and Study 2 consisted of 245 undergraduates participating in either intercollegiate or recreational athletics at three US universities. In Study 1, we examined the association between both linear and quadratic scores on a readiness to change measure and alcohol use. In Study 2, we examined the relationship between scores on a stage of change measure that included subscales indicative of different levels of readiness to change and alcohol use. The pattern of relationships supported the existence of an effect where the highest levels of alcohol use occurred among those with scores representing moderate levels of readiness to change. © 2013 Informa UK Ltd

Negative evaluation of role transitions is associated with perceived stress and alcohol consequences: Examination of the Transitions Overload Model in young adulthood using two years of monthly data

BackgroundYoung adulthood is characterized by transitions into and out of social roles in multiple domains. Consistent with self‐medication models of alcohol use, the Transitions Overload Model (J Stud Alcohol Suppl, 14, 2002, 54) hypothesizes that one cause of increased alcohol use during young adulthood may be the stress of navigating simultaneous role transitions. This study examined the simultaneous occurrence of major developmental role transitions in the domains of education, employment, romantic relationships, and residential status and their associations with perceived stress, heavy episodic drinking (HED), and negative alcohol‐related consequences. Further, we extended the Transitions Overload Model to explore whether the number of transitions rated as having a negative impact on one’s life was related to perceived stress, HED, and alcohol‐related consequences.MethodsA community sample of young adult drinkers (N = 767, 57% women, ages 18 to 25 years) in the Pacific Northwest provided monthly data across 2 years. Multilevel models were used to assess the average (between‐person) and month‐to‐month (within‐person) associations of role transitions with perceived stress, HED, and negative alcohol‐related consequences.ResultsAlthough having more role transitions was positively associated with HED frequency and alcohol‐related consequences at both the between‐ and within‐person (monthly) levels, it was not associated with increased stress. The number of transitions rated as having a negative impact on one’s life, however, was positively associated with stress. Thus, rather than the total number of transitions, it is the number of negatively perceived major developmental role transitions that is associated with perceived stress and increased risk for negative alcohol‐related consequences.ConclusionsContrary to Transitions Overload Model assumptions, more transitions were not a significant predictor of more perceived stress; rather, the evaluation of the transition as negative was associated with stress and negative alcohol‐related outcomes. This distinction may help elucidate the etiology of stress and subsequent alcohol consequences and identify individuals at‐risk of these effects.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170314/1/acer14636.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170314/2/acer14636_am.pd