Date of Award
Spring 5-20-2020
Document Type
Undergraduate Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Department
Psychological Sciences
Advisor
Dr. Stephen Pearlberg
Abstract
The onset of problem drinking behaviors for many college undergraduates occurs as they enter a new environment devoid of previous inhibiting factors. For whatever reasons college students choose to drink—and not all of them do—it is imperative to understand both the motives and influences affecting increased alcohol related risks. After conducting a thorough literature review, I propose a research design to test the hypothesis that drinking motives and alcohol involvement are mediated by neuroticism. To support this prediction, I will present a model that considers the impact that subject personality, namely neuroticism, may have in mediating the relationship. Specifically, this differential impact of neuroticism is a product of females’ higher probability to use drinking behavior as a coping mechanism. Further, I hypothesize that males are less likely to report drinking for emotional reasons and as such are less likely to present the mediated effect. Finally, I discuss the limitations inherent to undergraduate survey research on a sensitive topic. This study provides insight into differences in drinking motives that may generate new approaches to alcohol education for college undergraduates.
Digital USD Citation
Wilson, Jaymi, "The Relationship Between Undergraduate Gender, Drinking Motives, Alcohol Involvement, and Neuroticism" (2020). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 66.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/honors_theses/66
Creative Collaborations Poster
Creative Collaborations Poster.pdf (414 kB)