Influence of Peer Pressure and Self-Efficacy for Alcohol Self-Regulation on Chinese University Physical Education Students’ Drinking Behaviors

Lanyan Ding,Duane F Shell,Eric S Buhs,Ian M Newman

doi:10.4236/ape.2018.81006

Lanyan Ding, Duane F Shell + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.4236/ape.2018.81006

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Abstract

This study examined peer group influence on university student drinking in China and the indirect effects of peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation. A total of 951 undergraduate university students (first, second and third year) from a university in central China completed questionnaires asking about perceived peer pressures, self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation, and drinking frequency. Analysis of their answers showed that the drinking frequency among physical education (PE) students was higher than among the comparison group (History students). The PE students perceived greater peer pressure, and had lower self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation, both of which contributed directly to drinking frequency. Path analysis indicated indirect effects of peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation on the association between peer group membership and drinking frequency. This suggested that skills training to increase self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation in culturally-specific settings have the potential to both directly and indirectly lower drinking rates in peer groups with high peer pressure and higher than normal drinking.

Highlights

This study examined peer group influence on university student drinking in China and the indirect effects of peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation
This study was designed to confirm or refute reports by Chinese university officials responsible for student counseling and supervision that students in the physical education discipline are more often involved in discipline and behavior infractions than students in other disciplines. This conclusion is supported by Dong et al (2006) and Tu (2007). We surmised that this was the result of the relationship between student peer group membership, their perceptions of peer pressure, which in turn was related to alcohol consumption
Results from path analysis confirmed our hypothesis that peer group membership is directly related to alcohol drinking frequency among Chinese university students and this relationship is indirectly affected by peer pressure and self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation

Summary

Introduction

Most people are introduced to alcohol at a young age, and those who go to university generally began drinking with friends at that time (Leng, 2009) The main reasons they gave for drinking were socializing, making friends, and acting “cool” (e.g., Wu et al, 2009), while the main drinking occasions are annual festivals, birthday parties, and other social situations (Zhang & Liu, 2008). This study was designed to confirm or refute reports by Chinese university officials responsible for student counseling and supervision that students in the physical education discipline are more often involved in discipline and behavior infractions than students in other disciplines This conclusion is supported by Dong et al (2006) and Tu (2007). The outcome of these relationships was dependent on self-efficacy for alcohol self-regulation

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