Associated factors of readiness to change in young adult risky drinkers

ABSTRACT

Background: Readiness to change alcohol use has been associated with a number of predictors including emotional distress, drinking severity, and consequence severity, as well as with static demographic factors such as gender and race/ethnicity. Objective: To examine the relationships among these variables and readiness to change alcohol use in young adults. Methods: Structural equation modeling was used to test pathways of readiness to change in 1,256 young adult patients (78% male/22% female) ages 18–29 who were provided screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment (SBIRT) as part of a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Capacity Expansion Project. Results: The strongest relationships were between emotional distress, drinking severity, and consequence severity with readiness to change. Results indicated that participants with more severe alcohol problems demonstrated higher levels of readiness to change alcohol use and therefore, may be more amenable to behavior change. Additionally, females, Hispanic/Latino, and Black non-Hispanic (Black) participants demonstrated higher levels of readiness to change when compared to other groups. Conclusion: These results lend support to the concept that young adults are using alcohol to modulate their emotions. Furthermore, resultant severity of consequences from drinking may play an important role in their readiness to change risky drinking. This may be especially true for females, who reported greater emotional distress, and for Hispanic/Latinos and Blacks, who reported greater drinking severity with greater emotional distress. Caregivers may be better equipped to address young adult alcohol use with this added understanding.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• gender
• minorities
• nontreatment seeking
• readiness to change
• young adults

Funding

This study is a secondary data analysis of research funded as part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) contract through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (University of Texas PI: Richard Spence, Ph.D.) Contract #11618. This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the aforementioned parties. The authors report no relevant financial conflicts.

Additional information

Funding

This study is a secondary data analysis of research funded as part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) contract through the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) (University of Texas PI: Richard Spence, Ph.D.) Contract #11618. This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the aforementioned parties. The authors report no relevant financial conflicts.