Self-control as a moderator of the relationship between drinking identity and alcohol use

Subst Use Misuse. 2014 Aug;49(10):1340-8. doi: 10.3109/10826084.2014.901387. Epub 2014 Apr 14.

Abstract

This study evaluated self-control in the relationship between drinking identity and drinking. We expected those higher in drinking identity would drink more than those lower in drinking identity, particularly if low in self-control. Data were collected in 2012 via an online survey (N = 690 undergraduates, M age = 22.87, SD = 5.37, 82.50% female) at an urban university. An interaction emerged between self-control and drinking identity; self-control was negatively associated with drinking among individuals low in drinking identity, but positively associated with drinking among those high in drinking identity. Implications and future directions are discussed. This research was unfunded.

Keywords: drinking identity; restraint; theory of planned behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Social Behavior*
  • Social Control, Informal*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Universities
  • Young Adult