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Measuring university students' self-efficacy to use drinking self-control strategies
Erin E Bonar1, Harold Rosenberg, Erica Hoffmann
1Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, USA. erin.bonar@gmail.com
Summary
University students report higher self-efficacy for reducing excessive drinking in personal spaces compared to bars or parties. This finding is crucial for developing targeted alcohol reduction interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Excessive alcohol consumption among university students is a significant public health concern.
- Self-efficacy, or the belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations, plays a critical role in behavioral change related to drinking.
- Understanding situational and demographic factors influencing self-efficacy is key for effective intervention design.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess university students' self-efficacy in employing behavioral strategies to reduce excessive drinking across different locations.
- To examine the relationship between self-efficacy, drinking location, sex, and frequency of binge drinking.
- To validate a questionnaire for measuring self-efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption.
Main Methods:
- A Web-based, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from 498 university student drinkers.
- Participants reported their self-efficacy to use 31 behavioral strategies in three distinct drinking locations: bar, party, and own dorm/apartment.
- Statistical analyses were conducted to test associations between self-efficacy, drinking location, sex, and recent binge drinking frequency.
Main Results:
- Students reported higher self-efficacy for reducing drinking in their own living spaces compared to bars and parties.
- Women reported significantly higher mean self-efficacy than men.
- Students who engaged in more frequent binge drinking (3+ episodes in 2 weeks) demonstrated lower self-efficacy compared to those with less frequent binge drinking.
Conclusions:
- Self-efficacy for alcohol reduction strategies varies significantly by drinking location, sex, and binge drinking frequency.
- The developed questionnaire is a valuable tool for identifying self-efficacy deficits in individuals with problematic drinking patterns.
- This measure can serve as an outcome assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions aimed at enhancing confidence in using drinking-reduction strategies in high-risk settings.
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