title: Predicting Alcohol Pre-Drinking in Australian Undergraduate Students Using an Integrated Theoretical Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to examine the social-cognitive and motivational factors associated with pre-drinking based on a model integrating motivational constructs from self-determination theory and belief-based constructs from the theory of planned behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective correlational design was used. Participants (N = 286; 66.4% female) completed self-report measures of past alcohol consumption, autonomous and controlled forms of motivation from self-determination theory, and attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and behavioural intentions from the theory of planned behaviour at baseline. Participants reported pre-drinking frequency four weeks later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Variance-based structural equation modelling showed that the hypothesised model predicted 54 per cent of the variance in pre-drinking intentions at baseline, and 20 per cent of the variance in pre-drinking behaviour at follow-up. Mediation analyses indicated strong, statistically significant effects of autonomous motivation on intentions to pre-drink, partially mediated by attitudes and subjective norms. Intention and perceived behavioural control significantly predicted pre-drinking frequency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results provide support for the hypothesised model relationships. Autonomous motivation, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control were influential in forming students' intentions to pre-drink. However, consistent with previous findings, the intention-behaviour relationship was relatively weak. Future research should look to non-intentional and volitional processes that may influence pre-drinking in undergraduates.
authors: Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors: Kim M
authors: KM
authors: Caudwell
authors: Curtin University, Western Australia.
authors: Martin S
authors: MS
authors: Hagger
mesh_terms: D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D014904:Western Australia; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: alcohol consumption; pre-drinking; pre-loading; self-determination theory; theory of planned behaviour; undergraduate alcohol consumption