Use of the theory of reasoned action to predict drug and alcohol use

Initiation of drug and alcohol use and personality development during adolescence

Personality traits predict both the initiation and continued usage of alcohol and drugs. Less established is if substance use is associated with subsequent changes in personality, especially during the sensitive period of adolescence. We used three approaches to disentangle selection and socialization effects to address whether substance use is associated with personality development (impulsivity, sensation-seeking, depression, self-esteem). First, we used a multi-wave longitudinal sample of adolescents ( N = 8,303) from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth - Child and Young Adult dataset to study the first use of several substances. Second, we used propensity score weighting to equate users and abstainers on a range of background variables. Third, we investigated changes before, during, and after initiation of substances. Overall, there was unique variability and effects in personality across time for average levels, trajectories, and magnitudes of change both between users and abstainers as well as within users of specific substances. Results suggest that initiation of substance use is associated with changes in personality; the specifics of which are largely contingent upon the substance being used. Impulsivity and sensation-seeking were the traits associated with the most change while cocaine and cigarettes were the substances associated with the greatest changes.

Comparing Theoretical Models for the Understanding of Health-Risk Behaviour: Towards an Integrative Model of Adolescent Alcohol Consumption

The aim of the present manuscript is to test and compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and prototype-willingness model (PWM) in predicting risky alcohol consumption among adolescents and to build an integrative model to get a more comprehensive understanding of such risky behaviour. A total sample of 518 adolescents (55% females; 13-19 aged) recruited from Italian schools (7th to 12th grade) participated in a cross-sectional research study and completed an online questionnaire. Risky alcohol use assessed through the AUDIT-C was the dependent variable; whereas, variables from the TRA, TPB, and PWM (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, prototype favourability and similarity, and willingness to alcohol use) were used as predictors. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings show that the integrative model had greater explanatory power and provided a better fit to the data, compared to the TRA, TPB, and PWM, indicating attitudes and subjective norms as the best predictors. In conclusion, perceived social approval from significant others and the volitional component have a central role in understanding adolescents’ alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption at selected bars in Keffi, Nigeria: Consumers' awareness of recommended limits and consumption motivations

Are alcohol consumers aware of the recommended limit of alcohol consumption per day? What are the motivations for alcohol consumption? These questions constitute the major objective of this study. The study was carried out in Keffi town in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Exploratory research design was adopted while the qualitative research method and instrument were adopted for data collection. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 52 alcohol consumers in two different bars in Keffi. The study found that while all consumers expressed various reasons for alcohol consumption, all the interviewed respondents were not aware of the quantity of alcohol that poses immediate or future harm to the consumer. Consequently, all the interviewed drinkers consumed above the WHO recommended percentage of alcohol consumption per day. The study recommends that alcoholic drinks, and advertisements should carry more information about recommended daily intake, and quantity of alcohol that poses health and safety risks.

A pilot study to validate measures of the theory of reasoned action for organ donation behavior

The present study aimed at taking the first attempt in validating the measures generated based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA). A total of 211 university students participated in the study, 95 were included in the exploratory factor analysis and 116 were included in the confirmatory factor analysis. The TRA measurements were established with adequate psychometric properties, internal consistency, and construct validity. Findings also suggested that attitude toward organ donation has both a cognitive and affective nature, while the subjective norm of the family seems to be important to students' views on organ donation.

An Exploratory Study on University Students' Perceptions of Posthumous Organ Donation Base on the Theory of Reasoned Action

In view of the general support for organ donation but low registration rate in Hong Kong, the present research attempted to understand the attitude-behavior inconsistency by identifying the underlying beliefs for organ donation through employing the theory of reasoned action. A qualitative approach using semi-structured focus groups was adopted and 19 students from three universities in Hong Kong participated; 10 constructs were identified: attitude, subjective norm, helping, continuation, contribution, body intact, distrust to the medical system, indifference to organ donation, negative affect, and family burden. Findings suggested that their attitudes toward organ donation were of both the cognitive and affective nature; subjective norm of family, friends, and people they respect were identified as influential to students' views on organ donation. The study provided insight in promoting organ donation, that the cognitive concerns about keeping the body intact, and the negative affects introduced should also be addressed.

Alcohol use disorders and perceived drinking norms: ethnic differences in Israeli adults

OBJECTIVE

Individuals' perceptions of drinking acceptability in their society (perceived injunctive drinking norms) are widely assumed to explain ethnic group differences in drinking and alcohol use disorders (AUDs), but this has never been formally tested. Immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Union (FSU) are more likely to drink and report AUD symptoms than other Israelis. We tested perceived drinking norms as a mediator of differences between FSU immigrants and other Israelis in drinking and AUDs.

METHOD

Adult household residents (N = 1,349) selected from the Israeli population register were assessed with a structured interview measuring drinking, AUD symptoms, and perceived drinking norms. Regression analyses were used to produce odds ratios (OR) and risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to test differences between FSU immigrants and other Israelis on binary and graded outcomes. Mediation of FSU effects by perceived drinking norms was tested with bootstrapping procedures.

RESULTS

FSU immigrants were more likely than other Israelis to be current drinkers (OR = 2.39, CI [1.61, 3.55]), have higher maximum number of drinks per day (RR = 1.88, CI [1.64, 2.16]), have any AUD (OR = 1.75, CI [1.16, 2.64]), score higher on a continuous measure of AUD (RR = 1.44, CI [1.12, 1.84]), and perceive more permissive drinking norms (p < .0001). For all four drinking variables, the FSU group effect was at least partially mediated by perceived drinking norms.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first demonstration that drinking norms mediate ethnic differences in AUDs. This work contributes to understanding ethnic group differences in drinking and AUDs, potentially informing etiologic research and public policy aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.

Social Influences, Alcohol Expectancies, and Hazardous Alcohol Use Among College Athletes

Research has shown that college student-athletes are at increased risk for hazardous alcohol use. As such, this study examined social and cognitive influences on athletes’ alcohol consumption by exploring the association between injunctive norms (parental, teammate, and coach approval) and hazardous alcohol use among college athletes, and testing whether alcohol expectancy outcomes and valuations would mediate this association. College student-athletes (n = 301; mean age = 19.4, SD = 1.3) completed self-report questionnaires assessing their drinking behaviors and perceptions of alcohol use in their social environment. Structural equation modeling revealed, in all but one case, a direct association between each of the injunctive norms variables and hazardous alcohol use. In addition, negative expectancy valuations mediated the association between teammate approval and hazardous alcohol use. Injunctive norms emerged as an important factor in student-athletes’ alcohol use. Implications for alcohol intervention programming among student-athletes are discussed.

Young mothers' decisions to use marijuana: a test of an expanded Theory of Planned Behaviour

The current study examines the Theory of Planned Behaviour's (TPB) ability to predict marijuana use among young women who experienced a premarital pregnancy before the age of 18 years, using longitudinal data. The validity of the TPB assumption that all other variables work through TPB constructs is also tested. Indicators of four constructs that have been shown in the literature to be predictive of marijuana use-persistent environmental adversity, emotional distress, adolescent marijuana use and drug use in the social network-were tested as predictors of attitudes, norms and self-efficacy, in a structural equation modelling framework. All paths from distal predictors were through the mediating TPB constructs, in accordance with the tenets of the model. Implications of these findings for the TPB model and for understanding factors that lead to marijuana use are discussed.

The association between parent communication and college freshmen's alcohol use

Using a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 265 first-year college students to determine if parent-student alcohol communication is associated with college drinking or drinking consequences and if this relationship is mediated by students' parental subjective norms, attitudes toward drinking, and perceived risk. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypotheses. Students whose parents talked with them more about the negative effects of alcohol reported more extensive college drinking (beta = 0.12, p < 0.05). Favorable alcohol attitudes were significantly related to both more extensive college drinking (beta = 0.49, p < 0.05) and more drinking consequences (beta = 0.39, p < 0.05). Lower reported perceived risk was significantly related to more drinking consequences (beta = -0.24,p <0.05). Findings indicate that parental communication regarding the negative effects of alcohol may be ineffective at reducing college drinking or drinking consequences.

A decision theoretic and prototype conceptualization of possible selves: implications for the prediction of risk behavior

The present study explores a new framework for conceptualizing possible selves for the prediction of behavior. The framework uses decision theory, attitude theory, and classic expectancy-value models. The focus is on using possible-self constructs that (a) correspond to behavioral alternatives, (b) focus on self dimensions directly tied to the behavioral criterion, and (c) use expectancy-value constructs to assess the core features of a given possible self-dimension. A study of 305 college students was undertaken to predict alcohol use from possible self constructs using the framework. Results affirmed the utility of the approach, showing that possible-self constructs predicted behavior over and above current self-image and constructs in the Theory of Planned Behavior. Possible-self constructs associated with negative attributes of both binge drinkers and nonbinge drinkers were predictive of behavior.

Religião e uso de drogas por adolescentes

INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos internacionais e nacionais mostram que a religiosidade é um modulador importante no consumo de álcool e drogas entre estudantes adolescentes. OBJETIVOS: verificar se diferentes variáveis da religiosidade influenciam o uso freqüente e/ou pesado de álcool e drogas entre estudantes de 1º e 2º graus. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com uma técnica de amostragem do tipo intencional. Foi utilizado um questionário anônimo de autopreenchimento. A amostra foi constituída por 2.287 estudantes de escolas públicas periféricas e centrais e escolas particulares da cidade de Campinas, SP, entrevistados no ano de 1998. As drogas estudadas foram: álcool, tabaco, solventes, medicamentos, maconha, cocaína e ecstasy. As variáveis independentes incluídas na análise de regressão logística foram: filiação religiosa, freqüência de ida ao culto/missa por mês, considerar-se pessoa religiosa e educação religiosa na infância. Para identificar como as variáveis de religiosidade influenciam o uso de álcool e drogas utilizaram-se análises bivariadas e a análise de regressão logística para resposta dicotômica. RESULTADOS: O uso pesado de pelo menos uma droga foi maior entre os estudantes que tiveram educação na infância sem religião. O uso no mês de cocaína e de "medicamentos para dar barato" foi maior nos estudantes que não tinham religião. O uso no mês de ecstasy e de "medicamentos para dar barato" foi maior nos estudantes que não tiveram educação religiosa na infância. CONCLUSÕES: Várias dimensões da religiosidade relacionam-se com o uso de drogas por adolescentes, com possível efeito inibidor. Particularmente interessante foi que uma maior educação religiosa na infância mostrou-se marcadamente importante em tal possível inibição.

Greek students' attitudes toward physical activity and health-related behavior

A three-wave study over one year with 882 adolescents, aged 10 to 16 years at the initial testing, examined psychosocial variables regarding four health-related behaviors: exercise, eating fruit, smoking, and drug use. Analysis showed that during the stages of the study, high school students' exercise behavior decreased and their smoking behavior increased as well as their willingness to use drugs. It seems that study of physical education and health education during adolescence must take into account the possible differences in psychosocial variables associated with health-related behaviors as well as the different stages of adolescence.

Attitudinal and normative predictors of alcohol use by older adolescents and young adults

A model of alcohol use based on the theory of planned behavior, expectancy theory, and the developmental literature on the influence of parents and peers was examined with 87 eleventh grade students, 105 college freshmen, and 107 college juniors. Specifically, the influence of attitudes about the positive and negative consequences of drinking, perceived parental and peer norms about alcohol consumption, and perceived control over drinking predicted self-reported alcohol use. The results suggest that, during adolescence, decisions to consume alcohol are rational, based on the consideration of the positive consequences of alcohol use and perceptions of control over drinking; however, the negative consequences of alcohol use are discounted. While perceived peer norms predicted alcohol consumption in all three age groups, the influence of perceived parental norms varied such that they predicted alcohol use only among the college juniors. Implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

Rational decision perspectives on alcohol consumption by youth. Revising the theory of planned behavior

Cognitive and developmental approaches have made great strides in describing and predicting alcohol consumption by youth. The present review examines several theories of decision making with regard to alcohol consumption, including subjective expected utility (SEU) theory, the theories of reasoned action and planned behavior, and alcohol-related outcome expectancy theory. In addition, the developmental literature on the contribution of parents and peers to adolescent alcohol consumption is reviewed. A model is proposed, which integrates the theory of planned behavior and alcohol-related outcome expectancy theory with modifications based on findings from the developmental literature. Implications for further research are discussed.

Predicting intentions versus predicting behaviors: domestic violence prevention from a theory of reasoned action perspective

A central assumption of many models of human behavior is that intention to perform a behavior is highly predictive of actual behavior. This article presents evidence that belies this notion. Based on a survey of 1,250 Philadelphia adults, a clear and consistent pattern emerged suggesting that beliefs related to domestic violence correlate with intentions to act with respect to domestic violence but rarely correlate with reported actions (e.g., talking to the abused woman). Numerous methodological and substantive explanations for this finding are offered with emphasis placed on the complexity of the context in which an action to prevent a domestic violence incident occurs. We conclude by arguing that despite the small, insignificant relationships between beliefs and behaviors found, worthwhile aggregate effects on behavior might still exist, thus reaffirming the role of communication campaign efforts.

Substance use and sexual risk behavior: understanding their association among four ethnic groups of Latino men who have sex with men

PURPOSE

To explore the association between substance use in conjunction with sex and unprotected anal sex among Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, and Puerto Rican men who have sex with men (MSM), considering ethnicity, acculturation, and mediating variables.

METHODS

A New York City convenience sample of 307 men provided information on past year's sexual behavior, substance use, acculturation, attendance at bars, discos, and parties, self-worth, machismo, and sensation seeking.

RESULTS

Alcohol use and drug use were positively associated with unprotected anal sex, particularly with casual partners. Different rates of substance use among the four ethnic groups were found, but were not significant when adjusting for acculturation. Among men who engaged in both unprotected and protected anal sex, substance use was not more common on unprotected occasions than on protected occasions. Attendance at bars, clubs, etc. was not associated with unprotected anal sex. Sensation seeking, self-worth, and machismo were related to substance use and unprotected anal sex. In multivariate analyses, the substance use/unprotected sex association remained when adjusting for ethnicity, acculturation, partner type, attendance at bars, and personality variables.

IMPLICATIONS

Substance use and unprotected sex are associated among these Latino MSM. However, there does not appear to be a simple causal relationship between the variables. Several other variables co-vary with these factors but did not statistically explain their association.

Trends in situational norms and attitudes toward drinking among whites, blacks, and hispanics: 1984-1995

The purpose of this study was to explore trends in situational norms and attitudes toward drinking and to assess the associations of norms and attitudes with current drinking and frequent heavy drinking patterns among whites, blacks, and hispanics between 1984 and 1995. Data were obtained from two nationwide probability samples of US households. Results indicated that there were no broad trends in situational norms and attitudes toward drinking between 1984 and 1995 among whites, blacks, and hispanics in the US. The variations in norms and attitudes detected between 1984 and 1995 were ethnic and gender-specific. For all of the groups studied, situational norms and attitudes were highly predictive of both current drinking and frequent heavy drinking patterns.