Open AccessPredicting Young Adults’ Intentions and Involvement in Alcohol-Influenced Aquatic Activity
Author(s) -
Hannah Calverley,
Lauren A. Petrass,
Jennifer D. Blitvich
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
international journal of aquatic research and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.227
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1932-9997
pISSN - 1932-9253
DOI - 10.25035/ijare.13.03.06
Subject(s) - odds , ordered logit , logistic regression , young adult , psychology , odds ratio , demography , public health , binge drinking , injury prevention , poison control , environmental health , medicine , developmental psychology , nursing , pathology , machine learning , sociology , computer science
Globally, alcohol consumption is a public health issue and a risk factor for drownings among young adults. While studies have identified a prominence of alcohol in youth drownings, little is known about the factors that influence young adults’ involvement in alcohol-influenced aquatic activity. The current study aimed to identify the predictors of young adults’ intention to participate, and past participation, in alcohol-influenced aquatic activity. A reliable and valid survey, informed by the Theory of Planned Behavior, was distributed to young adults (aged 18-24 years) educated in the UK and Australia. Cumulative odds ordinal logistic regressions with proportional odds were conducted to establish predictors. Overall, 182 participants completed the survey. Subjective norms (Wald χ2 (2) = 8.43, p = .015), cognitive attitudes (Wald χ2 (2) = 6.40, p = .041) and previous involvement (χ2 (1) = 8.98, p = .003) were significant predictors of intention, whilst the influence of friends (Wald χ2 (2) = 10.99, p = .004) and intention (Wald χ2 (2) = 10.80, p = .005) were significant predictors of behavior. Practitioners should enhance risk awareness and norm perceptions in prevention programs to encourage informed decision making in social aquatic situations.