Planned and Unplanned Drinking to Get Drunk: A Registered Report Examining Willingness, Drinking Motives, and Protective Behavioral Strategies Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

• Published in: Psychology of addictive behaviors 2024-08, Vol.38 (5), p.519-539
• Main Authors: Howard, Andrea L., Lamb, Megan, Alexander, Sean M., Bradley, Abigail H. M., Carnrite, Kendra D., Milyavskaya, Marina, Barker, Erin T., Patrick, Megan E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcohol Drinking in College - psychology; Alcohol Use; Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology; Behavior; Behavioral Intention; College Students; Coping strategies; Drinks; Ecological Momentary Assessment; Female; Generalized linear models; Harm reduction; Human; Humans; Intention; Linear analysis; Male; Motivation; Non-binary gender; Polls & surveys; Pre-Registration Publication; Protective Behavioral Strategies; Protective factors; Students - psychology; Transgender persons; Undergraduate students; Universities; Willingness; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0893-164X; 1939-1501; 1939-1501
• DOI: 10.1037/adb0000909

Objective: We examined alcohol use and consequences across five categories of same-day drinking intentions and willingness and tested whether same-day motives and protective strategies predicted differences in outcomes across categories of intentions and willingness. Method: In a 14-week ecological momentary assessment design, undergraduate student participants (N = 196) reported drinking intentions and behaviors over 13 surveys weekly (four morning surveys [Thursday through Sunday]; three midday, early, and late evening surveys [Thursday through Saturday]). On average, participants were 20.61 years old (SD = 1.50; range 17-25), 63% identified as female (n = 124), 29% as male (n = 57), and 8% identified as neither male nor female (n = 15; i.e., nonbinary; transgender; genderqueer; agender). Participants reported numbers of drinks consumed on the evening (past 2 hr) and morning (previous day) surveys. Multilevel generalized linear models tested effects of drinking intentions/willingness categories, motives, protective strategies, and interactions between key variables on alcohol use and consequences in several models. Results: Rates and quantities of drinking were highest on planned drinking days, and especially high when students planned to get drunk. When enhancement and social motives were elevated, students were more likely to drink and consumed more drinks even on unplanned drinking days, and especially when socializing with others. Effects of coping motives were weaker and sparse. Harm reduction protective strategies were associated with more positive and negative consequences with little variation across planned and unplanned drinking days. Conclusion: Jointly considering drinking intentions and willingness narrows the intention-behavior gap in student drinking and suggests potential areas of focus for messaging around responsible drinking. Public Health Significance Statement This study finds that undergraduate student drinkers are most likely to drink and consume alcohol in larger quantities when they plan to drink and especially when they plan-to-get-drunk. Unplanned drinking is also common, and students appear to change their plans when motivations to enhance the fun and social experience of a drinking occasion make the rewards of drinking alcohol more salient. Whether planned or unplanned, next-day drinking consequences are similar. On-campus messaging related to alcohol use should be updated to acknowledge that intoxication is sometimes a volun