Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access originally published online on December 21, 2006
Alcohol and Alcoholism 2007 42(2):84-91; doi:10.1093/alcalc/agl115
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PREDICTING BINGE-DRINKING BEHAVIOUR USING AN EXTENDED TPB: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ANTICIPATED REGRET AND DESCRIPTIVE NORMS
1 Aston University Birmingham, UK
2 University of Aberdeen King's College Aberdeen, UK
3 Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed at: School of Life and Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; Tel.: +44 121 204 4072; Fax: +44 121 204 4090; E-mail: r.cooke{at}aston.ac.uk
Received 8 September 2006; first review notified 14 November 2006; accepted 21 November 2006
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Abstract |
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Aims: To investigate the utility of an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), including descriptive norms and anticipated regret, in predicting binge-drinking intentions and behaviour. Methods: A total of 178 undergraduates completed a questionnaire containing measures of TPB variables, descriptive norms, anticipated regret, and previous binge-drinking behaviour. One week later, 104 students completed a measure of binge-drinking behaviour. Results: Hierarchical regression demonstrated that attitudes (beta = 0.30, P < 0.001) and anticipated regret (beta = 0.47, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of intentions, with the final equation accounting for 58% of the variance. Hierarchial regression found that intentions (beta = –0.21, P < 0.05) and previous binge-drinking behaviour (beta = 0.36, P < 0.01) predicted current drinking behaviour, accounting for 33% of the variance. Conclusions: The study suggests that modifying attitudes and inducing regret may be effective strategies for reducing binge-drinking intentions among undergraduates, which should reduce subsequent binge-drinking behaviour.