A Parsimonious, Integrative Model of Key Psychological Correlates of UK University Students' Alcohol Consumption

• Published in: Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford) 2011-05, Vol.46 (3), p.253-260
• Main Authors: ATWELL, Katie, ABRAHAM, Charles, DUKA, Theodora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Alcohol Drinking - economics; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning; Biological and medical sciences; Culture; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Models, Theoretical; Motivation; Personality; Religion; Risk Factors; Self Efficacy; Social Behavior; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxicology; United Kingdom; Universities; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0735-0414; 1464-3502
• DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agr016

To examine the predictive utility of psychological correlates of alcohol consumption identified in previous (US-dominated) research for a UK student sample and construct an integrative model predictive of alcohol dependency in a sample of first-year undergraduate students. A self-report questionnaire completed by 230 students measured stable and modifiable correlates of alcohol dependence. Stable correlates included age when first regularly drinking (age of onset), personality traits and religiosity. Modifiable measures included drinking motives, self-efficacy, alcohol-related expectancies, prototype perceptions and normative beliefs. The final multivariate model highlighted the importance of age of onset, sensation-seeking and a series of social cognitive measures including: social drinking motives, confidence in the ability to drink within government guidelines (self-efficacy) and the perceived quantity and frequency of alcohol consumed by university friends. Beta-coefficients indicated that self-efficacy and social drinking motives were particularly important predictors. A significant interaction was observed between age of onset and self-efficacy. Earlier onset was associated with higher levels of alcohol dependence for low and moderate, but not high levels of self-efficacy. The model presented here could be used to identify students at risk of alcohol dependence and inform the design of campus-based interventions.