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


METHODS
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.
Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-2340, USA. John_Hustad@brown.edu
John T P
JT
Hustad
Kate B
KB
Carey
Michael P
MP
Carey
Stephen A
SA
Maisto
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult