Extending the prototype willingness model to daily life: examining risk-conducive contexts and drinking among...

The Prototype Willingness Model (PWM) emphasizes the importance of risk-conducive contexts in shaping behavior, yet these contextual processes have not been examined at the daily level. This study, in line with the PWM, examined the extent to which risk-conducive contexts (e.g., personal cannabis use, others' cannabis use, others' drinking, others' drinking game engagement, being in new environments or with new people) increase alcohol use on days when individuals are more willing to engage in alcohol-related behaviors. Participants (N = 996, 57% female, 44.4% White, M_age = 20.00, SD = 3.22) were recruited in Texas (United States) for a longitudinal ecological momentary assessment (EMA) study examining cognitions and alcohol use. Results of a hurdle negative binomial model indicated on days participants reported elevated (i.e., higher than their own average level) willingness to engage in alcohol use, they had greater odds of drinking and consumed more drinks. Drinking odds increased on days they were around others who drank and decreased when around new people. Two significant interactions showed willingness was positively associated with the predicted probability of consuming any alcohol and the number of drinks consumed, and the strength of the association became stronger when the participant was around others who were drinking. Findings extend the PWM by demonstrating how theoretically-based contextual processes operate at the daily level, informing intervention targets to reduce risky alcohol use.