Enhancement Motives Mediate the Positive Association Between Mind/Body Awareness and College Student Drinking

Abstract

This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between mindfulness and alcohol consumption among college students, with enhancement and coping motives evaluated as potential mediators. Differences between men and women in drinking and mindfulness (mind/body awareness specifically) were also considered. Undergraduate students (n = 212, 51% male) completed a survey that included measures of mindfulness, drinking motives, and drinking. Results indicated that greater mind/body awareness was associated with more alcohol use in men and women, and non-attachment to thoughts was associated with less drinking in men. Furthermore, enhancement but not coping motives were found to mediate these associations for men only. Results are discussed in terms of the theoretical implications for understanding the relationship between mindfulness and alcohol consumption.Keywords college drinking; mindfulness; drinking motives; sex differences; alcohol; meditation Alcohol consumption among college students continues to be both prevalent and problematic. In a recent national survey (1999) more than 80% of college students reported consuming some alcohol in the past year and approximately 44% reported heavy episodic drinking (i.e., 4 or more drinks in a row for women / 5 or more drinks in a row for men) at least once in the previous 2 weeks. Additionally, approximately 23% reported frequent heavy episodic drinking (i.e., 3 or more times in the previous 2 weeks), and among students who drank, 45% of them reported that they usually drink heavily when drinking and 48% said that they drink "to get drunk" (Wechsler, Lee, Kuo, & Lee, 2000). Frequent heavy episodic drinkers account for 68% of all consumed alcohol as well as the majority of alcohol related problems among college students (Wechsler, Molnar, Davenport, & Baer, 1999). Although moderate alcohol consumption by college students is relatively normative and might represent healthy psychosocial development (e.g., Schulenberg & Maggs, 2002), excessive drinking is associated with damaged property, poor class attendance, hangovers, trouble with authorities, and injuries (Wechsler et al., 2000; Wechsler, Davenport, Dowdall, Moeykens, & Castillo, 1994). Research has also demonstrated links between college drinking and unwanted sexual advances, unplanned and unprotected sex, sexual aggression, and sexual assault (Frintner & Rubinson, 1993;Koss & Gaines, 1993;Larimer, Lydum, Anderson, & Turner, 1999;Wechsler et al., 2000, Wechsler et al., 1994. Excessive drinking in late adolescence and early adulthood cannot be attributed to a single causal factor, although there is evidence that drinking is positively †Correspondence should be sent to Janis Leigh at the above address, or via email at: E-mail: jleigh1@indstate.edu. NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript related to stressful events, negative affect, anxiety, and nervousness during young adulthood (Rutledge & Sher, 2001).The role of mindfulness in the drinking behavior of coll...

Drinking identity as a mediator of the relationship between drinking motives and weekly alcohol consumption among heavy drinking undergraduate students

“…Enhancement motives are conceptually related to positive reinforcement, and can be described as drinking to enhance a pleasant feeling. Previous research consistently links enhancement motives with problematic drinking (e.g., Leigh & Neighbors, 2009; Palfai, Ralston, & Wright, 2011). Further, enhancement motives have unique relationships with college alcohol behaviors relative to other motives (e.g., Leigh & Neighbors, 2009).…”

“…Previous research consistently links enhancement motives with problematic drinking (e.g., Leigh & Neighbors, 2009; Palfai, Ralston, & Wright, 2011). Further, enhancement motives have unique relationships with college alcohol behaviors relative to other motives (e.g., Leigh & Neighbors, 2009). This could explain why direct effects emerged for enhancement but not other motives, and indicates that intervention approaches highlighting non-alcohol-related methods for achieving enhanced pleasant feelings may have unique benefit.…”

A meta-analysis of the relationship between trait mindfulness and substance use behaviors

“…Although there generally appears to be a negative relationship between trait mindfulness and substance use behaviors (Black et al, 2012; Bramm et al, 2013; Brewer et al, 2009; Brister, 2012; Rogojanski et al, 2011), some studies have failed to find this relationship (Phillip, 2010; Rendon, 2006) or have reported a positive relationship between trait mindfulness and substance use behaviors (Leigh and Neighbors, 2009; Leigh et al, 2005). …”

Meditative practices predict spirituality but mindfulness does not predict alcohol use in African-American college students

“…Mindfulness research also has been conducted with Caucasian college students. There is minimal research in the literature, however, on mindfulness in African-American college students and no information on mindfulness and alcohol use in this population (Leigh & Neighbors, 2009;Vernig & Orsillo, 2009). The present study possibly was the first to examine the relationship of mindfulness, alcohol use, and religion among African-American college students.…”

“…There is scant information, however, on mindfulness in African-American college students, and no research has been conducted on mindfulness and alcohol use in African-American college students (Leigh & Neighbors, 2009;Masuda, Anderson, & Sheehan, 2009;Masuda & Tully, 2012;Vernig & Orsillo, 2009). One possible explanation for lack of research in this area may be inaccessibility to the population by current mindfulness researchers.…”