Date of Award

1987

Publication Type

Doctoral Thesis

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Social.

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

A 180-item questionnaire of drinking characteristics was developed and administered to 539 university students. The survey instrument asked about alcohol consumption, drinking context, and a variety of potential predictor variables, including background factors, family domain, peer support, personality and attitudes, and reasons for drinking. Thirty scales were developed. The dependent measures of drinking included questions on frequency, quantity, number of alcohol related problems and two comparative questions, namely, drinking as compared to social acquaintances and close friends. The demographic characteristics most associated with drinking included gender (male), race (white), living arrangements (living in dorms) and academic performance (lower grades). A strong association was found between the use of marijuana and different measures of drinking, particularly the number of alcohol related problems. In the family domain, the best predictors of four of the drinking measures were permissive attitudes of parents, and reports of parental alcohol and other emotional problems. The quality of the relationship with parents was not found to predict alcohol abuse, and neither was the marital status of parents. The friendship scales tapping perceived support were not found to contribute as much as other domains, though the number of alcohol related problems was negatively associated with identity confirmation, emotional support, and empathy. In the personality domain, the best predictor of all the dependent measures was need for play. Such variables as self concept were not found to be useful. The domains of attitudes toward alcohol and reasons for drinking were the best predictors, accounting for more than half the variance. A permissive attitude toward the use of alcohol was associated with heavier consumption. Drinking to get drunk, as a reason for drinking, was the best predictor of drinking. The relative contribution of the different predictors appears to depend on whether one is concerned with differentiating extremes and across different levels, or adjacent levels, such as abstainers versus moderate drinkers.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1987 .R345. Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-07, Section: B, page: 2144. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1987.

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