What really matters in binge drinking: a dominance analysis of binge drinking psychological determinants among University students

Highlights • A dominance analysis of psychological variables associated to BD is proposed. • Positional, inter-individual and intra-individual factors were investigated. • The variables most associated to BD were enhancement motives and drinking identity. • The second order variables associated with BD were subjective norm and social motives. • Prevention actions may benefit of specifically targeting inter-individual variables.
Introduction Binge drinking (BD) is a public health concern, especially in young people. Multiple individual factors referring to different level of analyses - positional, inter-individual and intra-individual – are associated to BD. As they have mainly been explored separately, little is known about the psychological variables most associated with BD. This study, based on an integrative model considering a large number of variables, aims to estimate these associations and possible dominance of some variables in BD. Methods A sample of university students (N = 2851) participated in an internet survey-based study. They provided information on alcohol related variables (AUDIT, BD score), positional factors (sex, age), inter-individual factors (subjective norm, social identity, external motivations), and intra-individual factors (internal motivations, meta-cognitions, impulsivity and personality traits). The data were processed via a backward regression analysis including all variables and completed with a dominance analysis on variables that are significantly associated with BD intensity. Results The strongest variables associated with BD intensity were enhancement motives and drinking identity (average ΔR2 = 21.81%), followed by alcohol subjective norm and social motives (average ΔR2 = 13.99%). Other associated variables (average ΔR2 = 2,84%) were negative metacognition on uncontrollability, sex, coping motives, lack of premeditation, positive metacognition on cognitive self-regulation, positive urgency, lack of perseverance, age, conformity motives and loneliness. Conclusion Results offer new avenues at the empirical level, by spotting particularly inter-individual psychological variables that should be more thoroughly explored, but also at the clinical level, to elaborate new prevention strategies focusing on these specific factors.