Motives Matter: Exploring Psychological Predictors of Student Drinking Behavior

Alcohol use among college students remains a critical area of research, particularly regarding its implications for mental health. Prior studies have established connections between alcohol dependence and mental health disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD), with evidence suggesting that these issues often begin early, around age 14 (Schneier et al., 2010). Specific student populations, including student-athletes and members of Greek-letter organizations, may be at increased risk for alcohol-related problems (Turrisi et al., 2006). Building on this knowledge, this study examines whether resilience—an individual’s capacity to adapt to and recover from stressful situations—moderates the relationship between alcohol-related behaviors and mental health outcomes, potentially serving as a protective factor.

The purpose of this study is to examine the associations between alcohol use and mental health outcomes, with a specific focus on resilience as a potential moderating factor. We hypothesize that higher resilience may weaken the association between problematic alcohol use or certain drinking motivations (e.g., coping) and negative mental health outcomes, suggesting that resilience could buffer against these impacts. This study seeks to provide insights for targeted interventions that address not only drinking behaviors but also the underlying resilience that may protect students from adverse mental health effects. The data is still being collected but it is anticipated that students who had higher anxiety scores will have lower resilience scores. Additionally, students who scored higher on anxiety will be more likely to use alcohol.