Self-regulation, alcohol consumption, and consequences in college student heavy drinkers: a simultaneous latent growth analysis.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Lower levels of self-regulation have been associated with higher rates of alcohol-related consequences. Self-regulation refers to the effortful ability to plan and achieve delayed adaptive outcomes through goal-directed behavior, and this skill may play a role in adaptive behavioral change. The purpose of this prospective, longitudinal study was to test predictions from self-regulation theory about the relationship among self-regulation and weekly alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences over 12 months. METHOD: Participants were 170 heavy drinking college students who provided data on alcohol use and consequences at baseline and at 1-, 6-, and 12-month assessments. RESULTS: Using a simultaneous latent growth model, self-regulation ability predicted the amount of initial alcohol-related consequences, the rate of change for alcohol-related consequences, and the rate of change for drinks per week. In contrast, self-regulation was not related to the initial level of alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results suggest that lower self-regulation ability functions as a risk factor for experiencing alcohol-related consequences and attenuates naturally occurring reductions in alcohol use and consequences over time for heavier drinking college students.

Author information

Author/s: Hustad, John T P (JT); Carey, Kate B (KB); Carey, Michael P (MP); Maisto, Stephen A (SA);

Affiliation: Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-2340, USA. John_Hustad(-atsign-)brown.edu

Grants: R01-AA12518 (Agency:NIAAA NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs (J Stud Alcohol Drugs), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 70 (issue 3) : pp 373-82

Dates: Created 2009/04/17; Completed 2009/07/01;

PMID: 19371488, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 7/1/2009, IMS Date: 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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