title: Prospective effects of possible selves on alcohol consumption in adolescents.
abstract: Possible selves, cognitions about the self that reflect hopes, fears, and expectations for the future, are reliable predictors of health risk behaviors but have not been explored as predictors of adolescents' alcohol use. In a secondary analysis of data from 137 adolescents, we examined the influence of possible selves assessed in eighth grade on alcohol consumption (yes/no and level of use) in ninth grade. Having a most important feared possible self related to academics in eighth grade predicted alcohol abstinence in ninth grade. Among those who reported alcohol use, having many hoped-for possible selves and a most important hoped-for possible self related to academics in eighth grade predicted lower level of alcohol consumption in ninth grade. Interventions that foster the personal relevance and importance of academics and lead to the development of hoped-for possible selves may reduce adolescents' alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SON, Rochester, NY, 14642.
authors.forename: Chia-Kuei
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corte
authors.forename: Karen F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Chang G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Finnegan
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: McCreary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking
keywords: adolescence; alcohol use; cognition; identity development; possible selves; self-concept