The indirect effects of self‐regulation on the association of social support with increased protective drinking behavior and decreased alcohol problems in a predominantly Hispanic college student sample

Abstract

BackgroundPast research suggests that self‐regulation, which refers to one's ability to manage behavior, and social support are related to alcohol use. Additional research suggests that social support may serve as a precursor to self‐regulation and health promoting behaviors. This study sought to determine whether self‐regulation may have an indirect effect on the association of social support with protective drinking behaviors and alcohol problems.MethodsA random sample of students at a Hispanic Serving Institution were selected to complete an online survey, which included sociodemographic questions, the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale, the Short Self‐Regulation Questionnaire, the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale, and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Undergraduate students (n=192) who reported drinking in the last month were included in the analysis.ResultsA path analysis using Mplus 8 was conducted to investigate the relationships between social support, self‐regulation, protective behavioral strategies, and alcohol‐related problems. Results indicated that self‐regulation had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between social support with protective behavioral strategies and alcohol‐related problems.ConclusionsThe results of the current cross‐sectional study results suggest that a viable hypothesis in future longitudinal studies is that self‐regulation may be a mechanism by which social support increases protective behavioral strategies and reduces alcohol problems. Future research should assess both the mediating effects of self‐regulation between social support and drinking outcomes as well as potential moderators, such as ethnicity, in a longitudinal study.