Reasons for abstaining or limiting drinking: a developmental perspective

Abstract

The cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between reasons for abstaining or limiting drinking (RALD) and abstention were examined in a 16-year longitudinal study (N = 489) of college students with and without a family history of alcohol problems. Results indicated that RALD based upon upbringing or religiosity were associated with increased rates of abstention, whereas RALD based upon perceived or experienced negative consequences of drinking were associated with lower rates of abstention and increased alcohol consumption among drinkers. In addition, changes in RALD over time coincided with alcohol consumption transitions. Abstainers who began drinking after turning 21 reported a decrease in the importance of RALD associated with loss of control and upbringing or religiosity compared to abstainers who continued to abstain after turning 21. Conversely, drinkers who began abstaining after leaving college reported an increase in the importance of RALD associated with loss of control and upbringing or religiosity compared to drinkers who continued to drink after leaving college. Examining the reciprocal influences of RALD on drinking outcomes extends previous research and may inform prevention and intervention programs among college drinkers.

2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1a, b, and c. Mean levels of RALD by abstention group (n = 279–280).

Figure 2

Figure 2a, b, and c. Mean levels of RALD by sex (n = 339–341).

Figure 3

Figure 3a, b, and c. Mean levels of RALD by family history of alcohol problems (n = 338–340).

Figure 4

Figure 4a, b, c, and d. Adjusted Mean Levels of RALD Across the Transition to Age 21 (n = 443–444) for Abstainers and Abstainers who Begin Drinking After Their 21st Birthday and Across the Transition from College to Post-College (n = 443–445) for Drinkers and Drinkers who Begin Abstaining After Leaving College.

Figure 5

Simplified SEM model with auto-regressive and cross-lagged paths between RALD factors and abstention status (n = 487). A number of variables and paths that are included in this model are NOT shown for presentation purposes. Variables omitted from this figure include each of the individual RALD items at each time point and their error latent variables. Paths omitted from the figure include: correlations among individual item errors over time; correlations among RALD factors within wave; correlations among RALD and abstention within wave; and regression paths from the covariates (sex and family history status) to each RALD factor and each indicator of abstention status. LC = Loss of Control RALD; AC = Adverse Consequences RALD; C = Convictions RALD; Abst = Abstention Status (0 = drinker; 1 = virtual abstainer; 2 = absolute abstainer); FH+ = family history status is positive for history of alcohol problems. * p < .05.