Development and initial validation of a measure of motives for pregaming in college students

Pregaming (i.e., drinking alcohol prior to going out) is a common and risky drinking practice on college campuses. Yet, little is known about what motivates students to pregame as no motives measure exists specifically targeting pregaming. The current study describes the development and initial validation of a measure to assess motives for pregaming and to evaluate associations between these motives and pregaming behavior.

In a multi-stage process using three different college samples, both qualitative (i.e., focus groups) and quantitative methods were used to derive the Pregaming Motives Measure (PGMM). After initial item generation (Stage I: N=43, 74% male) and refinement with exploratory factor analysis (Stage II: N=206, 61% male), a confirmatory factor analysis was performed to establish the structure of the PGMM (Stage III: N=321, 34% male). The pattern of associations of the derived factors, pregaming behavior, and general drinking motives was explored to provide evidence for initial construct validity. Last, the indirect effect of pregaming motives on alcohol problems via pregaming behavior was assessed.

Findings indicated that the PGMM differed both in content from general drinking motives and that the PGMM items generated load on factors labeled Inebriation/Fun, Instrumental, and Social Ease. Moreover, the Inebriation/Fun and Instrumental motives were significantly associated with pregaming behavior. PGMM motives also both directly and indirectly predicted alcohol-related consequences.

Findings corroborate other data on pregaming, suggesting that this behavior may be driven by desires for quick inebriation and conviviality and related to problems only via increased drinking. The PGMM offers targeted assessment of pregaming and other social drinking behavior that can lead to deleterious outcomes.