Date of Award

2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Lisa L. Harlow

Abstract

Alcohol research often focuses on alcohol use variables. The following project is a development of a structural equation model (SEM) to test the relationships between risk taking, injuries, alcohol expectancies, alcohol consequences, and alcohol use. The model is based on principles from expectancy theory, social learning theory, the theory of reasoned action, and the transtheoretical model. The final mediational model represented a reasonable fit to the data, χ2 (70, N = 200) = 161.40, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.91, and RMSEA = 0.09 Risk taking, injuries, and alcohol expectancies were placed as independent factors, alcohol consequences was placed as a mediator factor, and alcohol use was placed as a dependent factor. With the exception of the path from injuries to alcohol consequences, all paths were significant. The results were consistent with existing models of alcohol expectancies, alcohol consequences, and alcohol use. Additionally, there is evidence that risk taking is important in the prediction of alcohol outcomes.

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