Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2016
DOI
10.1080/00952990.2016.1183671
Publication Title
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Volume
42
Issue
6
Pages
698-706
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While nonstudent emerging adults are at elevated risk for experiencing alcohol-related problems, there remains a paucity of research devoted specifically to addressing drinking in this group.
OBJECTIVES: The present study sought to offer unique insights into nonstudent drinking by examining drinking variability across 30 days using a retrospective diary method. Specific aims were to: (1) compare within- and between-person variability in alcohol use across 30 days, and (2) determine the extent to which central social-cognitive between-person factors (i.e., social expectancies, perceived drinking norms, social drinking motivations) predict between-person alcohol use as well as within-person variability in drinking.
METHODS: Participants were 195 (65.1% men) nonstudent emerging adults recruited from the community with a mean age of 21.9 (SD = 2.1) years.
RESULTS: Findings showed that a substantial portion of variation in daily alcohol consumption was attributable to the within-person (83%) rather than between-person (17.2%) level. Social expectancies, perceived drinking norms, and social motives were found to influence variability in daily alcohol consumption.
CONCLUSION: Our findings contribute to knowledge that could guide efforts to design and tailor intervention strategies to minimize the harms experienced by an understudied and at-risk population of drinkers.
Original Publication Citation
Lau-Barraco, C., Braitman, A. L., Stamates, A. L., & Linden-Carmichael, A. N. (2016). Alcohol use variability in a community-based sample of nonstudent emerging adult heavy drinkers. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 42(6), 698-706. doi:10.1080/00952990.2016.1183671
ORCID
0000-0002-2072-5477(Lau-Barraco, 0000-0003-2259-1094 (Braitman),0000-0001-8187-6538 (Linden-Carmichael)
Repository Citation
Lau-Barraco, Cathy; Braitman, Abbly L.; Stamates, Amy L.; and Linden-Carmichael, Ashley N., "Alcohol Use Variability in a Community-Based Sample of Nonstudent Emerging Adult Heavy Drinkers" (2016). Psychology Faculty Publications. 15.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/psychology_fac_pubs/15