A content analysis of personal strivings: associations with substance use

This study examined relations between personal strivings and frequency of alcohol, marijuana, and any drug use among college students. Personal strivings are ongoing goals that an individual is characteristically trying to achieve through their behavior. Participants generated lists of personal strivings following standard instructions and then completed an assessment of alcohol and marijuana use and days used any drug (aside from tobacco or medication as prescribed). Personal strivings were coded into content categories by trained raters using a coding manual. Four content categories were examined for this study: achievement, affect regulation, self-presentation, and interpersonal. A series of t-tests revealed that participants' achievement strivings were unrelated to substance use. In contrast, participants endorsing more affect regulation goals used all drugs more frequently. Self-presentation goals were positively associated with alcohol use but unrelated to marijuana or other drug use. Finally, interpersonal goals were associated with higher rates of alcohol use, lower rates of marijuana use, and not related to total use days.