How Religiosity Reduce the Intention of Alcohol Consumption in Muslim Undergraduate Students: Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on youth alcohol use intention in Indonesia using Theory Planned Behavior (TPB) framework. The purposive sampling technique was employed. The criteria of respondents are active undergraduate students who study in Surakarta. The sample comprised of 362 undergraduate students, with 63.56 percent identifying as female. A total of 53 students have ever consumed alcoholic beverages, with 90.56 percent of them identifying as male. The average age of our respondent is 19.5 years old, with a maximum of 26 years old and a minimum of 17 years old. Structural Equation Model-Partial Least Squares, or SEM-PLS is the method that we employ to estimate the relationship of each variable. Our study shows intrinsic religiosity has negative effect on intention to consume alcohol (β= -0.168, p<0.10, t = 1.945). In addition, intrinsic religiosity also has negative significant effect on all TPB factors, such as alcohol-supported attitude (β= -0.444, p<0.01, t = 4.099), alcohol-supported subjective norm (β= -0.436, p<0.01, t = 4.205), and internal perceived behavioral control (β= -0.271, p<0.05, t = 2.464). Partial mediation exists between the relationship of intrinsic religiosity, alcohol-supported attitude and intention of alcohol drinking (β= -0.165, p<0.05, t = 2.263). Thus, It implies that intrinsic religiosity is able to affect intention of alcohol drinking through attitude and intrinsic religiosity itself are able to affect intention of alcohol drinking directly. This study could provide support for the inclusion of religion as a discipline in the curriculum for undergraduates. Nonetheless, the religion course should encompass not only religious values that emphasize the expectation of a reward for completing specific actions, but also values that emphasize the act of worshiping and honoring God without expecting too much reward in return.