Relationships between drinking motives and drinking restraint

Relationships between drinking motives (self-perceived reasons for drinking alcohol) and drinking restraint (preoccupation with controlling alcohol intake) were examined in a nonclinical young adult sample. Ninety-seven undergraduate university drinkers completed the Temptation and Restraint Inventory (Collins & Lapp, 1992), the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (Cooper, Russell, Skinner, & Windle, 1992), and measures of demographics (age and gender) and social desirability. Results indicated that after accounting for the influences of demographic and social desirability information, Coping Motives and Enhancement Motives scores from the Drinking Motives Questionnaire were significant predictors of Cognitive and Emotional Preoccupation scores on the Temptation and Restraint Inventory, and Coping Motives scores were a significant predictor of Cognitive and Behavioral Control scores on the Temptation and Restraint Inventory. Social Motives scores on the Drinking Motives Questionnaire did not significantly predict either Cognitive and Emotional Preoccupation or Cognitive and Behavioral Control scores. Further analyses suggested that actual behavioral attempts at alcohol restriction on the Temptation and Restraint Inventory were predicted by Enhancement Motives scores, whereas cognitive concerns about drinking were predicted by Coping Motives scores. Results are discussed in terms of implications for risk for excessive and problem drinking in enhancement and coping-motivated young adult drinkers.