Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies Research Articles

Revised Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20 (PBSS-20) Sub-Types: An Analysis of Direct/Controlled Consumption and Indirect/Harm Reduction PBS.

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are commonly conceptualized with a three-factor model, as used in the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20 (PBSS-20). However, inconsistencies exist between factors and drinking outcomes. The current study used factor analysis to test a two-factor structure directly via controlled consumption (Direct/CC) and indirectly via harm reduction (Indirect/HR) using the PBSS-20 among a combined sample of n = 4,883 drinkers. Both the two- and three-factor structures evince similar model fit. A two-factor model yielded more concise PBS measurement. Negative associations were observed with consumption (Direct/CC PBS) and problems (Indirect/HR). A condensed, eight-item, two-factor model accounted for less variance in alcohol consumption, however more variance in alcohol-related problems. A more consistent framework for understanding the impact of PBS on alcohol-related outcomes is provided.

A systematic review of the associations between protective behavioral strategies and heavy alcohol consumption and consequences among young adults.

We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the association between use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) and young adult heavy drinking and alcohol-related consequences. We followed the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis guidelines to select and review research studies that were comprised of a sample of young adults ages 18-26, included PBS derived from one of 10 validated scales as an independent variable, measured heavy alcohol use or alcohol consequences as the dependent variable, and tested the direct association between the two. Studies were gathered via PubMed, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, APA PsycInfo, and Global Health. All identified study records underwent a two-step screening process and risk of bias assessment. Data were extracted from 94 studies that met inclusion criteria; 16 studies (17%) examined associations with heavy alcohol use and 91 studies (97%) tested effects of PBS on alcohol consequences. All studies that measured a total effect of PBS use (summations across all strategies) found significant negative associations with heavy alcohol use and 91% were negatively associated with alcohol consequences. Most studies that examined subscales of PBS found at least one significant, negative relation with heavy alcohol use (73%) and alcohol-related consequences (78%), though effects varied across type of subscale (e.g., manner of drinking). Our results support the use of PBS to address heavy alcohol consumption and related harms among young adults. Opportunities for refinement of current PBS in preventive interventions are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Comparing Drinking Game Motives, Behaviors, and Consequences Among Varsity Athletes, Recreational Athletes, and Non-Student-Athletes: A Multisite University Study.

Among college students, student-athletes are at increased risk for heavy alcohol consumption, participation in risky drinking practices (e.g., playing drinking games [DG]), and adverse alcohol-related consequences relative to non-student-athletes. Within the student-athlete population, level of sports participation (e.g., recreational or varsity sports) can affect alcohol use behaviors and consequences, but our understanding of the extent to which level of sports participation influences engagement in DG is limited. Thus, in the present study, we examined differences in frequency of participation in DG, typical drink consumption while playing DG, negative DG consequences, and motives for playing DG among varsity, recreational, and non-student-athletes. College students (n = 7,901 across 12 U.S. colleges/universities) completed questionnaires on alcohol use attitudes, behaviors, and consequences. Student-athletes (recreational or varsity sports) were more likely to have participated in DG within the past month than non-student-athletes. Among students who reported past-month DG play, recreational athletes played more often and endorsed more enhancement/thrills motives for playing DG than non-student-athletes, and student-athletes (recreational or varsity) endorsed higher levels of competition motives for playing DG than non-student-athletes. These findings shed light on some risky drinking patterns and motives of recreational athletes who are often overlooked and under-resourced in health research and clinical practice. Recreational and varsity student-athletes could benefit from alcohol screening and prevention efforts, which can include provision of competitive and alcohol-free social activities and promotion of alcohol protective behavioral strategies to help reduce recreational athletes' risk for harm while playing DG.

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies for young adults: a content analysis across drinking contexts and gender

ABSTRACTBackground: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are specific harm reduction behaviors which mitigate alcohol-related consequences among young adults. Prior work indicates PBS utilization varies according to drinking context and gender, suggesting a need for further research assessing whether young adults employ unidentified PBS according to such factors.Objectives: This study examined alcohol PBS young adults suggest using across drinking contexts and gender to inform alcohol-related harm reduction interventions.Methods: An online survey with 514 young adult heavy drinkers (n = 269 female, Mage = 22.36 years) assessed PBS use generally, and across 12 physical and social contexts. We utilized qualitative content analysis methods to code and derive themes from open-ended responses from a prompt asking participants to state additional PBS used per context. The frequency of each theme’s appearance was calculated across the overall sample, by gender, and within each context.Results: PBS endorsement varied across context and gender within each theme. Young adults who reported PBS use most frequently endorsed utilizing strategies related to drink content (18.30%), social support (12.36%), and engaging in other activities (10.34%). Participants infrequently endorsed strategies related to awareness of time (0.23%), standards of behavior (0.78%) and avoiding environments (0.87%).Conclusions: Young adults endorse utilizing additional PBS in varying frequency according to drinking context and gender. Given PBS are often a key component of alcohol harm reduction interventions, monitoring trends in young adult PBS use is crucial to ensure continued relevance and efficacy of such interventions to minimize harms associated with young adult heavy alcohol use.

Use of Both Alcohol and Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies is Associated with Fewer Negative Consequences: A Moderation Analysis

Background: Concurrent alcohol and cannabis (i.e. marijuana) use (CAM; use of both substances within the same specified time frame) is prevalent among college students and associated with increased risk of negative substance-related consequences. Extant research supports the use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) for reducing negative consequences associated with both alcohol and cannabis use. However, limited research exists regarding the efficacy of PBS among CAM users, and it is unknown whether using PBS for both alcohol and cannabis augments protective effects. The present study tested four moderation models to evaluate the interactive effects of alcohol and cannabis PBS on alcohol and cannabis negative consequences and use frequency. Methods: A multisite sample of college students (N = 1705) reporting past-month CAM use completed questionnaires regarding substance use behaviors, PBS use, and substance-related negative consequences. Results: Alcohol and cannabis PBS were negatively associated with alcohol and cannabis use, respectively. However, two-way interactions between PBS on substance use were not supported, such that negative associations between PBS and same-substance use were not augmented as other-substance PBS use increased. Interactive effects of alcohol and cannabis PBS on negative alcohol and cannabis consequences were supported, such that negative associations between alcohol PBS and consequences were augmented as cannabis PBS increased and vice versa. Conclusions: Findings suggest that using both types of PBS may increase protective effects against negative consequences among CAM users. Accordingly, promoting both types of PBS may enhance extant harm reduction interventions.

An examination of the effects of ADHD symptoms and sex on the relation between cannabis protective behavioral strategies and cannabis consequences

The risk for cannabis-related problems is elevated among young adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. It is unknown whether the use of cannabis protective behavioral strategies (PBS) mitigates this risk for college students with ADHD. Prior research finds that college students who use alcohol and report high levels of ADHD symptoms particularly benefit from employing alcohol PBS, and these relations are strongest for male students. Thus, this study examined the moderating effects of ADHD symptoms and sex assigned at birth on the relation between cannabis PBS use and cannabis-related problems among college students who use cannabis. Participants were 384 college students (66.9% female, 57.8% white non-Hispanic, Mage = 19.29) from 12 United States universities who reported past-month cannabis use. Participants completed measures of demographics, ADHD symptoms, past-month cannabis frequency and related problems, and cannabis PBS use via an online survey. There was a significant interaction of ADHD hyperactive/impulsive symptoms, PBS use, and sex on cannabis-related problems, controlling for cannabis use frequency. The strength of the negative association between PBS use and problems depended on level of ADHD symptoms for females, but not for males. However, there were no interactive effects for ADHD inattentive symptoms. These results supplement the literature base on relations between PBS use and ADHD symptoms in college students, extending support for their use to cannabis users. Importantly, promoting PBS use to female college students who are high in hyperactive/impulsive ADHD symptoms is recommended.

Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies in Young Spanish Adults in the Community: A Prospective Study of Perceived Efficacy and Social Norms.

Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have been shown to be useful for reducing excessive alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. However, research on the explanatory factors of PBS is limited. This paper prospectively examines the contribution of perceived efficacy of PBS in reducing alcohol-related consequences and perceived descriptive norms of close peers´ PBS use in young adults. The mediating role of perceived efficacy of PBS between descriptive norms of PBS use and personal PBS use is also examined. Targeted sampling was used to recruit a community-based sample of 339 young Spanish adults aged 18-25 years, who completed baseline and two-month follow-up questionnaires. Three types of PBS (serious harm reduction-SHR, manner of drinking-MOD, and stopping/limiting drinking-SLD) were measured. Both perceived efficacy and descriptive norms at baseline were positively associated with personal PBS use (SHR, MOD and SLD) at follow-up. A partial mediation effect of perceived efficacy between descriptive norms and personal PBS use was found for the three PBS subscales. Our findings support the usefulness of correcting misperceptions of PBS use by peers in interventions aimed at reducing excessive drinking and alcohol-related consequences in young adults in the community. Moreover, PBS perceived efficacy should be included as a component of these interventions.

Perceived helpfulness of alcohol protective behavioral strategies and consequence severity: A person-centered analysis

Objective: College students report high rates of alcohol use and negative alcohol-related consequences (ARC). Many studies document that protective behavioral strategy (PBS) use is negatively associated with ARC. Few studies examine consequence severity and PBS helpfulness, both of which may provide nuance to this relationship. Participants and method: The current study used latent profile analysis to examine variability in PBS use, PBS helpfulness, ARC count, and ARC severity patterns among college students (n = 1156). We identified latent profiles and differences in alcohol use and drinking motives across profiles. Results: Three profiles best represented the data: (1) high PBS/low consequences, (2) moderate PBS/moderate consequences, (3) low PBS/high consequences. Conclusions: College students endorsing stronger drinking motives might be less likely to use and select helpful PBS and might experience more severe ARC. Results suggest that simple modifications to common measures can add depth of understanding and nuance to the examination of alcohol-related behaviors.

Further validation of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire for assessing motivations for responsible drinking: A test of self-determination theory.

Alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) are cognitive-behavioral strategies used before, during, and/or after drinking to reduce alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. Self-determination theory (SDT) provides a potentially useful framework to understand motivations for responsible drinking, which is operationalized in the present study as PBS use. In the present study, we examined the relation of motivations for responsible drinking, as assessed by the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ), with other SDT constructs (psychological need satisfaction and dispositional autonomy) and PBS use. A sample of 507 college students who reported consuming alcohol at least once in the past 3 months were recruited from a random sample of students enrolled at a Hispanic serving institution to complete an online survey. Consistent with SDT and previous studies of the TSRQ, we found support for a 4-factor structure of the TSRQ. The TSRQ demonstrated measurement invariance across several sociodemographic subgroups within the sample (e.g., biological sex, age, year in school), supporting the use of the TSRQ across these subgroups. Further, consistent with SDT-based hypotheses, greater psychological need satisfaction and dispositional autonomy were related to more self-determined motivations for responsible drinking. Also consistent with SDT, more self-determined motivations for responsible drinking were related to more frequent PBS use. The present findings further support the utility of the TSRQ for assessing motivations for responsible drinking and support SDT as a framework for understanding responsible drinking. Future directions for research applying SDT to understand and promote responsible drinking among college students are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Serious Harm Reduction Strategies Indirectly Affects the Relationship between Explicit Drinking Identity and Hazardous Drinking in College Males

ABSTRACT College male alcohol use continues to be a topic of interest due to its prevalence and the nature of consequences reported by this group. Research concerned with prevention and intervention efforts has focused on alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) and the subtypes (i.e., manner of drinking, stopping/limiting drinking, and serious harm reduction), as a promising approach to reduce harm associated with drinking. Past research indicates college males are less likely than their female peers to use PBS. Currently, little research has explored whether explicit drinking identity may be associated with college males’ relative lack of PBS use. The current study examined the indirect association of explicit drinking identity with alcohol outcomes through the relation with PBS subtypes. This study utilized a national sample of 599 college males (M = 22.52, SD = 2.02) who completed measures of drinking identity, PBS use, and alcohol outcomes (i.e., negative consequences and hazardous use). Results indicated a positive association between drinking identity and alcohol outcomes (i.e., hazardous alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences). The relationship between drinking identity and hazardous alcohol use was partially explained by less use of serious harm reduction-PBS strategies. Research and clinical practice implications are discussed.

Psychometric validation of the Protective Drinking Practices Scale in college students across the United States.

The present study tested the psychometric properties of a new 20-item alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) measure, the Protective Drinking Practices Scale (PDPS). Specifically, we evaluated measurement invariance of the PDPS in a sample of college students recruited nationally, tested the factor structure, evaluated construct validity, and explored potential short-form versions. Participants were 684 college student drinkers from throughout the United States (50.3% male; 65.6% White) obtained using Amazon's Mechanical Turk (MTurk) who completed measures of PBS use, hazardous drinking, alcohol-related negative consequences, alcohol use disorder (AUD) screening criteria, and depression. A differential item functioning analysis found that the PDPS items functioned similarly in the present sample and the original validation sample. Further, a unidimensional item response theory analysis confirmed the single PDPS factor structure identified in the original study. The PDPS demonstrated evidence of convergent validity with measures of hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. Finally, five potential three-item PDPS short-form versions were generated, which all had strong correlations with the 20-item PDPS. Overall, these results suggest the PDPS functioned similarly in a United States college student sample with geographical diversity relative to a sample from a single Southeastern United States university, which has implications for future research and clinical work with college students. Future research should continue assessing the psychometric properties of the PDPS among diverse samples of college students and further elucidate an optimal PDPS short form for use in clinical screening and research contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

A Test of Interaction Effects Between Cannabis Protective Behavioral Strategies and Antecedents of Cannabis-Related Consequences

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to examine tests of interaction effects between cannabis protective behavioral strategies use and a range of risk/protective factors for negative cannabis-related consequences. We recruited 2,226 college students (Mage = 20.28, SD = 3.37; 68.8% female; 75.4% White) from 10 universities throughout the U.S. who reported using cannabis in the past month to complete an online survey. Measures assessed cannabis use, negative cannabis-related consequences, cannabis protective behavioral strategies use, and 35 risk/protective factors (including socio-demographic characteristics). Cannabis protective behavioral strategies use was negatively correlated with negative cannabis-related consequences while including the risk/protective factors as covariates. Most importantly, 33% and 54% of the interaction effects tested were statistically significant, depending on the covariates entered into the model. The interaction effects had a consistent pattern such that the positive association between greater risk and negative cannabis-related consequences was weaker as cannabis protective behavioral strategies use increased. Findings suggest that the nature of these interaction effects is not specific for any given risk/protective factor. We draw parallels to research on alcohol protective behavioral strategies and offer suggestions for moving the cannabis protective behavioral strategies field forward.

Protective Behavioral Strategies Mediate the Relationship between Overparenting and Alcohol-Related Consequences among College Students

Background The negative consequences associated with alcohol misuse remain a concern on college campuses nationwide. Alcohol protective behavioral strategies are important factors in mitigating college students’ experiences of alcohol-related negative consequences. Overparenting, or “helicopter parenting,” is a form of over-involved parenting which has been associated with a range of substance use concerns in college students. The mechanism by which overparenting is associated with alcohol use and/or consequences is unclear; however, it may be partially explained by failure to engage in the use of protective behavioral strategies. Purpose/objectives: The current study explored the degree to which alcohol protective behavioral strategies mediated the relationship between overparenting and alcohol-related negative consequences when accounting for alcohol consumption and if these associations were invariant across race and gender. Methods: Participants were 625 traditional age college students who consumed alcohol within the 30 days prior to completing measures of alcohol consumption, overparenting, alcohol-related negative consequences, and alcohol protective behavioral strategies. Results: Alcohol protective behavioral strategies, specifically manner of drinking, partially mediated the relationship between overparenting and alcohol-related negative consequences when accounting for alcohol misuse. There were no differences noted across gender, but the models were found to be invariant across White and African American participants in relation to the protective value of alcohol protective behavioral strategies. Conclusion/Importance: Overparenting may relate to negative alcohol outcomes in part through less use of harm reduction strategies. More investigation into the value of alcohol protective behavioral strategies across race is needed.

ELSA 2018 Cohort: Protective Behavioral Strategies as Mediators of the Relationship between Risk Factors and Alcohol Outcomes in Argentinean College Freshmen.

The present study examined which types of alcohol protective behavioral strategies ([PBSs], Manner of Drinking [MOD] strategies, Serious Harm Reduction [SHR] or Limiting/Stopping Drinking strategies [LSD]) mediate the effects of a comprehensive number of distal antecedents on alcohol drinking quantity and alcohol-related negative consequences. A sample of 762 last-month college freshman drinkers from Argentina (Mean age=19.60±3.80) completed a survey that assessed alcohol outcomes (drinking quantity during a typical week and alcohol-related negative consequences), frequency of use of PBS and a set of distal antecedents (i.e. age at drinking onset, drinking motives, college alcohol beliefs and impulsivity-like traits). MOD significantly mediated the effects of college alcohol beliefs (higher beliefs were associated with lower MOD use) and coping motives (higher coping motives were associated with lower MOD use) on alcohol outcomes. SHR significantly mediated the effects of sex (women reported more frequent SHR use) and enhancement motives (higher motivation was associated with lower SHR use) on alcohol-related negative consequences. Our findings partially support a mediational role of PBS in the association between risk factors and alcohol outcomes, and offer valuable information for the design of interventions to reduce alcohol use in South-American college students. More studies examining PBS as mediators of distal antecedents are needed to fully understand the peculiarities of these associations in different cultures.

A test of interaction effects between alcohol protective behavioral strategies and antecedents of alcohol-related consequences

The purpose of the present study was to examine interaction effects between alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) and a variety of risk and protective factors for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences using data from a large, multi-site sample of college students. We recruited 5090 college students (71.2% female; 77.4% White; Mean Age = 20.89, SD = 4.44) who reported any alcohol use in the past month from psychology department participant pools at 10 universities across the U.S. to complete an online survey. Alcohol PBS use was a statistically significant negative predictor of alcohol-related problems while controlling for each antecedent variable individually. In terms of moderation effects, 26 out of 35 interactions (74.3%) were statistically significant in the models controlling only for sex. When controlling for frequency and quantity of alcohol use, 24 of 33 interactions (72.7%) were statistically significant. The nature of these interaction effects was largely the same: more frequent alcohol PBS use reduced the positive associations between risk factors and alcohol-related problems. The lack of specificity of these interaction effects calls into question the limited contributions of tests of interaction effects between alcohol PBS and individual antecedent variables. Comprehensive tests of interaction effects between alcohol PBS and antecedent variables with large samples are needed to move the field forward, especially replication attempts of interactions effects reported in single studies.

College Alcohol Beliefs and Alcohol Outcomes: The Mediating Effects of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies

Background The present study examined the mediating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (i.e. serious harm reduction [PBS-SHR], manner of drinking [PBS-MOD], stopping/limiting drinking [PBS-SLD]) on the relationships between college alcohol beliefs and alcohol outcomes (i.e. hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences) in an attempt to replicate recent findings in the early stages of college alcohol belief and PBS research. Methods: Participants were 625 traditional age undergraduate college students (M = 19.00, SD = 1.72; 63.7% White; 80.7% female) recruited from a southeastern United States university who reported past 30-day alcohol consumption. All participants completed measures of college alcohol beliefs, alcohol PBS use, hazardous drinking, and alcohol-related negative consequences through an online survey. Results: Higher college alcohol beliefs were associated with greater hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. Further, PBS-MOD mediated the positive relationship college alcohol beliefs had with hazardous drinking, such that higher college alcohol beliefs predicted less PBS-MOD use which was associated with greater hazardous drinking. Discussion: These findings provide further evidence to support previous findings highlighting the additional protective value of certain alcohol PBS especially for college students with high college alcohol beliefs.

Profiles of motivations for responsible drinking among college students: A self-determination theory perspective

The present study sought to identify motivational profiles for responsible drinking from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective among college students. We used data from 507 students who reported drinking alcohol at least once in the past 3 months that were recruited from a random sample of undergraduate students at a Southwestern university. Participants completed an online survey that included measures assessing amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, and autonomous motivation for responsible drinking as well as other SDT constructs, alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS), and alcohol use/problems. A latent profile analysis suggested that a 3-class solution was optimal: a “High Quality” class (i.e., relatively high on introjected regulation and autonomous motivation but relatively low on all other types of motivation), a “High Quantity” class (i.e., relatively high on all types of motivation), and a “Low Quantity” class (i.e., relatively low on all types of motivation). The High Quality class reported the highest level of psychological need satisfaction and dispositional autonomy, followed by the High Quantity class, with the Low Quantity class reporting the lowest levels. The High Quality class reported more frequent use of serious harm reduction PBS than the High Quantity class. Generally, both the High Quality and High Quantity classes reported more frequent use of all types of PBS and less alcohol use/problems than the Low Quantity class. These results provide initial support for different profiles of motivations based on SDT for responsible drinking. Potential implications for alcohol interventions among college students are discussed.

Event-specific drinking and protective behavioral strategy use among college students

Background Event-specific drinking occasions (e.g. holidays, special occasions, school breaks) have been associated with heavy drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences among college students. This study extends prior research by examining understudied holidays and changes in protective behavioral strategy use during these event-specific drinking occasions. Method Participants were 537 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 who retrospectively reported drinking in the past 2 weeks. Several alcohol use variables (e.g. frequency, quantity, heavy episodic drinking frequency), negative alcohol-related consequences, and protective behavioral strategies were assessed for the previous 14 days. Ten event-specific drinking occasions were coded for the 14-day reporting period. A series of Analysis of Covariance models were conducted to examine differences on alcohol use variables, negative consequences, and protective behavioral strategies for weeks that included an event-specific drinking occasion relative to a no holiday reference timeframe. Results Compared to the no holiday reference group, several event-specific drinking occasions (e.g. Labor Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day) were associated with greater alcohol use, negative consequences, and protective behavioral strategy use. In contrast, other occasions were determined to be low-risk holidays (e.g. Veterans Day) when protective behavioral strategies were less frequently used. Some occasions (e.g. Spring Break) did not exhibit the expected clear pattern of risk. Conclusions College students’ alcohol use, negative consequences, and protective behavioral strategy use vary across event-specific drinking occasions. Determining which event-specific drinking occasions are associated with risky alcohol use and the lowest use of harm reduction strategies is important for prevention and intervention programs.

Perfectionism and alcohol use outcomes in college students: the moderating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategies

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the moderating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategy (PBS) types (stopping/limiting drinking – SLD; manner of drinking – MOD; serious harm reduction – SHR) on the relationships adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism have with alcohol use and alcohol-related negative consequences (ARNC).Materials and methods: Participants included 526 traditional-aged college students (Mage = 19.77, 80.7% female, 60.2% White non-Hispanic) who reported alcohol consumption in the past thirty days and completed measures of perfectionism, typical weekly drinking, ARNC, and PBS use.Results: PBS-SHR moderated the relationships between adaptive perfectionism and typical weekly drinking such that the negative association between adaptive perfectionism and typical weekly drinking was weakest for those reporting more PBS-SHR use. Additionally, PBS-SHR moderated the relationship between adaptive perfectionism and ARNC such that the negative association between adaptive perfectionism and ARNC was weakened for those using more PBS-SHR.Conclusions: These results suggest the protective value of adaptive perfectionism and PBS-SHR for college students who tend to engage in frequent alcohol consumption. Therefore, alcohol prevention and intervention efforts may consider targeting personality variables, such as perfectionism, in relation to alcohol use behaviors.

Protective behavioral strategies and alcohol-related outcomes: The moderating effects of drinking refusal self-efficacy and sex

The investigation of drinking refusal self-efficacy and alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBSA) has revealed inconsistent results. Sex may be one factor that plays a role in these results given the demonstrable differences between the alcohol use behaviors of men and women. The current study examined the moderating effects of drinking refusal self-efficacy and sex on the relationships that PBSA subtypes have with alcohol outcomes for traditional age undergraduate students (18–25 years of age; 81% women; 60% White). Results showed negative associations between manner of drinking PBSA and alcohol consumption for individuals with high levels of drinking refusal self-efficacy but not low levels of drinking refusal self-efficacy. However, manner of drinking PBSA was positively associated with alcohol-related negative consequences for men but not for women. Results also showed negative associations between stopping and limiting drinking PBSA and alcohol related negative consequences for individuals with high levels of drinking refusal self-efficacy but not low levels of drinking refusal self-efficacy. It appears that addressing drinking refusal self-efficacy within the context of PBSA is valuable for traditional college students.