Drinking to have fun and to get drunk: Motives as predictors of weekend drinking over and above usual drinking habits

Abstract Most evidence on the motives-alcohol use link has come from cross-sectional research using retrospective assessments. It remains also to be demonstrated whether motives predict drinking in particular circumstances. In the present study, drinking motives assessed 2 weeks prior to a diary stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Drug and alcohol dependence 2010-08, Vol.110 (3), p.259-262
Main Authors: Kuntsche, Emmanuel, Cooper, M. Lynne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Alcohol Drinking - psychology
Alcohol use
Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic Intoxication - psychology
Alcoholism
Alcoholism and acute alcohol poisoning
Biological and medical sciences
Choice Behavior
Conformity
Consumption
Coping
Diaries
Drinking motives
Drinks
Drug addiction
Ecological momentary assessment
Female
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Motivation
Multilevel modeling
Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Surveys and Questionnaires
Toxicology
Weekend drinking
Young Adult
Young adults
Young people
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Summary:Abstract Most evidence on the motives-alcohol use link has come from cross-sectional research using retrospective assessments. It remains also to be demonstrated whether motives predict drinking in particular circumstances. In the present study, drinking motives assessed 2 weeks prior to a diary study were used to predict the number of drinks on weekend days as reported via short message service (SMS). Multilevel regression models were estimated based on 391 reports from 55 participants (mean age 22.7). The results revealed that enhancement motives but not gender, age, or social, coping, or conformity motives predicted weekend drinking over and above usual consumption. Consumption and motives together explained more than three-quarters of the inter-individual variance in weekend drinking. To conclude, this study points to a heavy episodic weekend drinking culture of young people who drink large quantities on Friday and Saturday nights apparently because they are seeking fun and excitement. Preventive measures should aim to counteract young people's drinking at peak times and in high-risk situations.
ISSN:0376-8716
1879-0046
DOI:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.02.021