The Engagement of Non-substance-Related Pleasant Activities Is Associated with Decreased Levels of Alcohol Consumption in University Students

Abstract

Interventions that focus on changing environmental contingencies through exposure to alternative reinforcers, in order to provide a lifestyle that is more rewarding than one that includes high levels of alcohol consumption, have been shown to be highly efficacious. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between activity engagement in terms of pleasant substance related and non-substance activities (SRA/non-SRA) and levels of alcohol consumption among university students. A study involving 286 students looked specifically at levels of alcohol consumption and non-SRA/SRA. Levels of alcohol consumption were strongly and positively correlated with SRA (r = 0.69), but also with non-SRA (r = 0.28). A finer-grained analysis showed that the relationship between positive SRA and level of alcohol consumption is weakened by the inclusion of non-SRA as a third variable. Non-SRA seem to attenuate the level of alcohol consumption in the context of SRA. Alcohol consumption among university students could plausibly be reduced by focusing on promoting appealing and healthy non-substance-related rewarding activities.