title: The nature and correlates of young women's peer-directed protective behavioral strategies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, a number of studies have identified self-employed Protective Behavioral Strategies (PBS) as effective in decreasing the level of alcohol-related harm among young people. However, much of the published research has ignored important gender differences, such as women's increased tendency to rely on PBS that are social in nature. To further the understanding of women's PBS, the current study sought to investigate the nature and correlates of the strategies young women employ to keep their friends safe when drinking (i.e., peer-directed PBS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A scale measuring peer-directed PBS was developed and administered in conjunction with existing measures of alcohol consumption, personal PBS, and peer attachment. Participants consisted of 422 women aged 18-30 years, recruited among psychology students and the general public.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exploratory factor analysis revealed two clusters of peer-directed PBS; those that were aimed at reducing intoxication among one's friends and those that were designed to minimize alcohol-related harms. Further analysis found a positive relationship between women's tendency to implement personal and peer-directed PBS and that risky drinkers were less likely to engage in personal or peer-directed PBS (either type).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that personal and peer-directed PBS are related behaviors that are less frequently adopted by risky drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. Electronic address: ka.armstrong@qut.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), 130 Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watling
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, University of Michigan, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor 28109, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Peer-directed protective behavioral strategies; Protective behaviors; Women drinking; Young women