Personal strivings, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems.
This study examined relations between personal strivings and alcohol use among college students. Personal strivings are ongoing goals that individuals are characteristically trying to achieve through their behavior. Participants generated lists of personal strivings following standard instructions and then completed an assessment of alcohol use and related problems. Participants returned to complete a follow-up assessment of drinking behavior after 30 days. Personal strivings were coded into content categories by trained raters using a coding manual. Four content categories were examined for this study: achievement, affiliation, health, and self-presentation. A series of t tests revealed that participants endorsing achievement strivings reported less alcohol-related problems and marginally fewer instances of binge drinking during the 30-day follow-up period. In contrast, participants endorsing self-presentation strivings reported more alcohol-related problems during the follow-up period.
Simons
Jeffrey S
JS
Department of Psychology, The University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA. jsimons@usd.edu
Christopher
Michael S
MS
McLaury
Ann E
AE
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000506:poisoning*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol