Understanding university student drinking in the context of life goal pursuits: The mediational role of enhancement motives

Abstract

Previous research has shown that university students who experience lower levels of meaning in the pursuit of typical life goals use more alcohol and experience more alcohol-related problems. The main objective of the present study was to extend this work by identifying motivational mechanisms that underlie the association between goal meaning and alcohol involvement. Ninety-three introductory psychology students participated in a university health behaviors study for course credit. Students completed a goal assessment in which they generated and rated goals that characterized their lives on dimensions of meaning and efficacy and then completed a series of assessments about alcohol use. Controlling for gender, partial correlations showed that higher meaning ratings for life goals were associated with less alcohol use and fewer alcohol-related consequences. Multiple mediational analyses among drinkers showed that the association between goal meaning ratings and alcohol involvement was mediated by enhancement but not coping motives. Findings support motivational models that have suggested that those who experience less engagement in their daily life tasks may experience greater positive incentive value from drinking. Results point to the potential value of alcohol intervention approaches that include efforts to help students engage in sources of non-substance related reinforcement in their daily lives.