title: Protective behavioral strategies as a mediator and moderator of the relationship between self-regulation and alcohol-related consequences in first-year college students.
abstract: This study examined protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a potential mediator and moderator of the relationship between self-regulation and alcohol-related consequences. Participants were 249 first-year undergraduate men and women. The use of PBS partially mediated the relationship between self-regulation and alcohol-related problems (i.e., supporting the "self-control equals drinking control" hypothesis). However, use of PBS appeared more important for those with poorer self-regulation abilities (supporting the "PBS protect the impaired" hypothesis). Because both mediation and moderation were supported, a moderated mediation model was tested. The moderated mediation model demonstrated that the negative relationship between self-regulation and alcohol-related consequences could be explained by use of PBS for individuals with poor-to-average self-regulation but not for individuals with above-average, self-regulation abilities. Implications of the study's findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, 250 Mills Godwin Building, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA. gdlim001@odu.edu
authors.forename: Gabrielle Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: D'Lima
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult