Comparison of event-specific drinking motives reported at the first drink versus retrospectively the next morning

Drinking motives are proximal predictors of alcohol use and often conceptualized as traitlike constructs. However, research shows motives are dynamic, varying day-to-day. We compared associations between event-specific motives reported at first drink versus retrospectively the next morning and alcohol consumption and consequences.

Heavy-drinking college students (N = 95) completed 28 days of ecological momentary assessments. At first drink of the day, participants reported whether they were drinking to reduce depression, reduce anxiety, have fun, get high/buzzed/drunk (high), and/or not be left out (conformity). These motives, total drinks consumed, and consequences were retrospectively reported the next morning.

Students were more likely to report "fun" and "high" motives retrospectively than at first drink. When assessed retrospectively, fun and high motives were associated with more drinks and "conformity" motives with fewer drinks. When reported at first drink, only the high motive was associated with consumption. Retrospective reports of fun, high, and conformity motives were associated with more positive consequences. When assessed at first drink, only fun and high motives were significant. Only high motives, reported at first drink, significantly increased likelihood of a negative consequence.

Findings suggest event-level effects of motives on drinking outcomes depend on when motives are assessed. More associations between retrospective motives and outcomes suggest that drinking motives may change within an event and/or young adults reconstruct their drinking motives based on their experience. Findings have event-level assessment design implications and provide evidence that antecedent "high" motives present the greatest event-level risk for heavy drinking and negative outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).