Self-regulation, peer conformity and impulsive sensation seeking in relation to alcohol consumption in 18 to 25-year-old university students.

Abstract

The independent variables self-regulation, impulsive sensation seeking and peer conformity were examined concerning individual alcohol consumption of young adults aged 18-25. The study assumed that these three independent variables would predict differences in alcohol consumption. Participants completed the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (SRQ), the Impulsive Sensation Seeking Scales (ImpSS), the Peer Conformity Vignettes (PCV) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). A Pearson's correlation analysis was conducted to determine any relationship among the four variables and a multiple regression was conducted to determine the contribution of the three independent variables' variance in alcohol consumption. The results in this study found an nonsignificant correlation concerning self-regulation and alcohol consumption, however obtained positive significant results for impulsive sensation seeking in relation to alcohol consumption as well as for the correlation between peer conformity and alcohol intake. Findings from the multiple regression analysis explained 19.3 % of the variance in alcohol consumption. Keywords: self-regulation, peer conformity, impulsive sensation seeking, alcohol consumption, young adults