Identifying theoretical predictors of risky alcohol use among noncollege emerging adults.
OBJECTIVE
Studies show that emerging adults who do not obtain postsecondary education are at greater risk for developing alcohol use disorders later in life relative to their college-attending peers. Research examining constructs amenable to change within this population is necessary to inform intervention efforts. Thus, the current study aimed to identify psychosocial correlates of risky alcohol use for noncollege emerging adults. A secondary goal was to examine whether gender moderated the relationships between the psychosocial constructs and alcohol use.


METHODS
Participants were a nationally representative sample of noncollege emerging adults (18-22 years old) who reported using alcohol in the past year, recruited through an established Internet panel (N = 209; 125 women). A path model was used to examine the relationship between theoretically derived constructs (expectancies, attitudes, normative beliefs) and risky (peak) drinking. A second model examined a multigroup solution to assess moderating effects of gender.


RESULTS
The full-sample model revealed significant associations between attitudes toward drinking and risky drinking. The model assessing gender differences revealed association between normative beliefs and drinking for women but not men, whereas attitudes were significantly associated with risky drinking for both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings highlight the importance of attitudes and, for women, descriptive norms in the etiology of risky drinking among noncollege emerging adults, which emphasizes their potential utility in the development and adaptation of interventions for this at-risk population.
Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA. nscaglione@psu.edu
Nichole M
NM
Scaglione
Rob
R
Turrisi
Michael J
MJ
Cleveland
Kimberly A
KA
Mallett
Carly D
CD
Comer
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult