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.

Creative Collaborations (COMPLETE) .pdf (414 kB)
Creative Collaborations Poster

Creative Collaborations Poster.pdf (414 kB)

Included in

Psychology Commons

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