Clinical and Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, USA.
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, USA.
Addict Behav. 2020 Nov;110:106526. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106526. Epub 2020 Jun 26.
In the United States, turning 21 often involves heavy drinking and high rates of alcohol-related consequences. Friends are an important source of social influence on young adult drinking, including during 21st birthdays. However, research is needed to investigate the specific pathways through which this interpersonal influence occurs. Data were drawn from a larger intervention study focused on reducing 21st birthday drinking. Using data from 166 celebrant and friend dyads (N = 332 individuals), we prospectively examined relations among each person's beliefs about 21st birthday celebrations, drinking intentions for the celebrant, and celebrants' estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) on their 21st birthdays. Path analyses evaluated the impact of celebrant and friend beliefs on their own report of celebrant intentions, each other's report of celebrant intentions, and celebrant eBAC, as well as the mediating role of each individual's report of celebrant intentions. Results revealed significant indirect effects of each individual's beliefs on celebrant eBAC via their own report of celebrant 21st birthday drinking intentions. Friend beliefs also predicted celebrant eBAC via celebrant drinking intentions, beyond the effect of celebrant beliefs. Importantly, celebrant eBAC was as strongly predicted by friend 21st birthday celebration beliefs as they were by their own beliefs. Results highlight multiple pathways through which friends influence 21st birthday drinking and reveal that friend influence is not constrained to the celebration, but begins in advance of the event by shaping celebrants' drinking intentions. Findings highlight key directions for future work leveraging friends as intervention agents to reduce drinking related to this high-risk event.
在美国，21 岁生日通常伴随着豪饮和高比例的酒精相关后果。朋友是年轻人饮酒行为的一个重要社交影响源，包括在 21 岁生日时。然而，需要研究来调查这种人际影响发生的具体途径。数据来自一项关注减少 21 岁生日饮酒的更大干预研究。利用来自 166 对庆祝者和朋友二人组（N=332 人）的数据，我们前瞻性地考察了每个人对 21 岁生日庆祝活动的信念、庆祝者的饮酒意图以及庆祝者 21 岁生日时的估计血液酒精浓度（eBAC）之间的关系。路径分析评估了庆祝者和朋友的信念对他们自己报告的庆祝者意图、彼此报告的庆祝者意图以及庆祝者 eBAC 的影响，以及他们每个人报告的庆祝者意图的中介作用。结果显示，每个人的信念通过他们自己报告的庆祝者 21 岁生日饮酒意图对庆祝者 eBAC 有显著的间接影响。朋友的信念也通过庆祝者的饮酒意图预测了庆祝者的 eBAC，而不是庆祝者的信念的影响。重要的是，朋友对庆祝者 21 岁生日庆祝活动的信念与他们自己的信念一样，对庆祝者 eBAC 有很强的预测作用。结果强调了朋友影响 21 岁生日饮酒的多种途径，并揭示了朋友的影响不仅限于庆祝活动，而是通过塑造庆祝者的饮酒意图，在活动之前就开始了。研究结果突出了未来利用朋友作为干预手段来减少与这一高风险事件相关的饮酒行为的关键方向。
