Personal goals as predictors of college student drinking motives, alcohol use and related problems

Although there has been extensive research examining drinking motives, relatively little of that research has focused on those factors that might underlie drinking motives. The present study examines whether nonalcohol-related motives (personal goals) can predict drinking motives, self-reported drinking and alcohol-related problems in a college student sample.

For an experiment on "attitudes and drinking," 290 volunteer undergraduate students (169 women and 121 men) completed measures of daily goal functioning (Personal Projects Analysis), drinking motives (Drinking Motives Questionnaire), frequency and quantity of alcohol consumed and alcohol-related problems (Drinkers Inventory of Consequences).

Using path analysis, it was found that nonalcohol-related goals serve as significant distal predictors of alcohol-related problems, with their effects almost entirely mediated by drinking motives and/or drinking level. Perceptions of life goals involving goal self-efficacy, meaningfulness and social support appear to be significant protective factors, and goal-related distress is a significant risk factor.

The present study extends previous research by focusing on a more idiographic, personally meaningful manifestation of motivation through the evaluation of nonalcohol-related personal goals. The daily pursuits of college students were shown to be predictive of drinking and drinking-related problems, especially as mediated through drinking motives. The findings suggest that several goal mechanisms could be considered for their potential role in improving interventions.