Abstract
The aim of the present manuscript is to test and compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and prototype-willingness model (PWM) in predicting risky alcohol consumption among adolescents and to build an integrative model to get a more comprehensive understanding of such risky behaviour. A total sample of 518 adolescents (55% females; 13-19 aged) recruited from Italian schools (7th to 12th grade) participated in a cross-sectional research study and completed an online questionnaire. Risky alcohol use assessed through the AUDIT-C was the dependent variable; whereas, variables from the TRA, TPB, and PWM (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, prototype favourability and similarity, and willingness to alcohol use) were used as predictors. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings show that the integrative model had greater explanatory power and provided a better fit to the data, compared to the TRA, TPB, and PWM, indicating attitudes and subjective norms as the best predictors. In conclusion, perceived social approval from significant others and the volitional component have a central role in understanding adolescents’ alcohol consumption.
Highlights
The aim of the present manuscript is to test and compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and prototype-willingness model (PWM) in predicting risky alcohol consumption among adolescents and to build an integrative model to get a more comprehensive understanding of such risky behaviour
The attitude component was associated with alcohol use in adolescents to a higher extent compared to the subjective norm component, which did not add significant prediction to the model, especially when estimating drinking problems (Wood, Nagoshi, & Dennis, 1992)
Behavioural intention was found to be the main motivator of behaviour consistently with previous research (Cooke et al, 2016; Kuther, 2002; Sheppard et al, 1988), suggesting the volitional nature of alcohol consumption among adolescents
Summary
The aim of the present manuscript is to test and compare the theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and prototype-willingness model (PWM) in predicting risky alcohol consumption among adolescents and to build an integrative model to get a more comprehensive understanding of such risky behaviour. Risky alcohol use assessed through the AUDIT-C was the dependent variable; whereas, variables from the TRA, TPB, and PWM (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, prototype favourability and similarity, and willingness to alcohol use) were used as predictors. Alcohol can be considered as a risk factor for premature mortality among adolescents in Europe (Inchley et al, 2018) due to its potential harmful and adverse consequences, such as unintentional injuries, road-traffic accidents and suicidal behaviours (Maldonado-Molina, Reingle, Tobler, & Komro, 2010; Swahn, Bossarte, Ashby, & Meyers, 2010) From this perspective, the need for screening and preventive interventions is advocated to contrast hazardous drinking by adolescents (Liskola et al, 2018), requiring a better and deeper understanding of such risky behaviour. Attitudes and subjective norms resulted to impact the behaviour independent of intentions (Keefe, 1994; Liska, 1984)
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