THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NORMS IN THE STRUCTURAL MODEL EXPLAINING ALCOHOL USE AMONG STUDENTS
THE ROLE OF SOCIAL NORMS IN THE STRUCTURAL MODEL EXPLAINING ALCOHOL USE AMONG STUDENTS

Summary/Abstract: Few studies have explored the complex relationships among several factors determining alcohol use or explained how norms operate in the relationships between alcohol use and other psychological constructs. This study aims to explore the complex relationships in the proposed model explaining students' alcohol use with special emphasis on descriptive and injunctive norms. Cross-sectional data were collected from 719 university students (59.0% females; Mage = 21.25; SD = 1.99), who were asked to fill in a set of AUDIT items, cognitive and affective attitudes, descriptive and injunctive norms, self-regulation, self- -determination, drinking motives, and alcohol expectancies. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. It was found that (1) self-regulation was neither directly nor indirectly associated with alcohol use; (2) self-determination was indirectly associated with alcohol use through injunctive norms, attitudes and drinking motives; (3) descriptive norms were associated with alcohol use directly; (4) injunctive norms were associated with alcohol use directly as well as indirectly via alcohol expectancies, attitudes and drinking motives; (5) alcohol expectancies were associated with alcohol use directly. In addition to identifying individual associations among variables, this study also explains which factors contribute to students' alcohol use and norms and how these factors interact, which can be useful for the development of prevention programmes.

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