Reciprocal Effects of Transitional Instability, Problem Drinking, and Drinking Motives in Emerging Adulthood

Drinking motives as a predictor of readiness to change alcohol use

Drinking motives have been identified as important predictors of alcohol consumption. Similarly, the degree of readiness to change (RTC) can predict behavioral changes when drinking alcohol. However, the link between drinking motives and RTC has not been explored in previous research. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the four drinking motives (coping, enhancement, social, conformity) can predict the three stages of RTC (precontemplation, contemplation and action) in relation to alcohol consumption. Two hundred and fifty-two undergraduates’ students completed an online self-assessment survey on Qualtrics that assessed motives for alcohol use, drinking behavior, and RTC. Hierarchical regressions showed that among the four specific drinking motives, coping motives significantly predicted all three stages of RTC; conformity motives positively predicted the action stage of change; social motives negatively predicted the precontemplation and action stages of change; enhancement motives were not significant in predicting RTC stages. These results indicate that the three RTC levels can be predicted by coping, social, and conformity motives, but not by enhancement motives. Additionally, given the importance of coping motives, it might be useful to address and include healthier coping mechanisms as part of clinical interventions and prevention methods to circumvent unsafe drinking behaviors independent of a single RTC stage.

Conduct Problems and Adherence to COVID-19 Guidelines: A Developmental Psychopathology-Informed Approach

COVID-19 underscores the importance of understanding variation in adherence to rules concerning health behaviors. Children with conduct problems have difficulty with rule adherence, and linking early conduct problems with later adherence to COVID-19 guidelines can provide new insight into public health. The current study employed a sample (N = 744) designed to examine the longitudinal consequences of childhood conduct problems (Mean age at study entry = 8.39). The first objective was to link early conduct problems with later adherence to both general and specific COVID-19 guidelines during emerging adulthood (M age = 19.07). The second objective was to prospectively examine how interactional (i.e., callous unemotional traits, impulsivity) and cumulative (i.e., educational attainment, work status, substance use) continuity factors mediated this association. The third objective was to examine differences in sex assigned at birth in these models. Direct associations were observed between childhood conduct problems and lower general, but not specific COVID-19 guideline adherence. Conduct problems were indirectly associated with both general and specific adherence via higher levels of callous unemotional traits, and with specific adherence via higher problematic substance use. No differences in the models were observed across sex assigned at birth. Findings provide insight into both how developmental psychopathology constructs are useful for understanding COVID-19 guideline adherence, and the ways in which conduct problems may shape health outcomes.