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A Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior in the Prediction of Alcohol‐Induced Blackout Intention and Frequency
Author(s) -
DiBello Angelo M.,
Miller Mary Beth,
Merrill Jennifer E.,
Carey Kate B.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.14232
Subject(s) - blackout , theory of planned behavior , psychology , structural equation modeling , baseline (sea) , social psychology , control (management) , computer science , political science , power (physics) , physics , electric power system , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , machine learning , law
Background This study examined the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as an explanatory model for alcohol‐induced blackouts among college students. Blackouts are periods of time wherein individuals continue to function and engage in their social environment but do not remember it as a result of consuming large quantities of alcohol. Social cognitive factors posited within TPB, such as perceived norms and personal attitudes toward alcohol consumption, are reliable predictors of alcohol use and related problems. However, research to date has not examined these theoretical antecedents as predictors of alcohol‐induced blackout. Methods College students with a history of blackout ( N = 384) completed a baseline survey, and a subsample ( N = 120) completed a 1‐month follow‐up survey. Negative binomial mediation models were used to evaluate intentions to blackout as a mediator of the norms, attitudes, and self‐efficacy to avoid blackout–blackout frequency association at baseline and 1‐month follow‐up. Results Norms, attitudes, and self‐efficacy to avoid blackout all significantly predicted blackout intentions at baseline, which in turn predicted more frequent blackouts both at baseline and at 1‐month follow‐up. Notably, blackout attitudes demonstrated both direct and indirect associations with blackout frequency. Conclusions Prospective analyses provided partial support for the TPB, with only attitudes and intentions demonstrating prospective associations with actual blackout frequency. Given the particularly strong association between blackout attitudes and frequency of blackouts, attitudes may represent an important and novel target for prevention and intervention efforts.