Alcohol consumption among young adults in Italy: The interplay of individual and social factors

Abstract

The consumption of alcohol among young adults is determined by different individual and environmental factors. The present study aims at comparing the effects of different predictors on the alcohol consumption of Italian young adults. Data were collected by means of a self-report questionnaire on a sample of 311 university students. Four different types of predictors were considered: (1) socio-demographic characteristics; (2) quality of social relations (Perceived social support); (3) Sensation-seeking personality trait; (4) Motivation to drink alcohol that the Motivational Model classifies according to the valence (positive or negative) and the source (internal or external) of the outcomes individuals expect to achieve from alcohol use. To test the influence of different groups of variables we performed three hierarchical regression analyses. Several significant influences were found. Alcohol consumption is of social value, it is linked to positive social relations and it is motivated by positive rather than negative valence motivations. Drinking motives confirmed their role of most proximal antecedents of alcohol use.

Declaration of interest: There are no conflicts of interest to report.

Notes

Notes

1. It is possible to consult the data on alcohol consumption in Europe using the Health in Europe Information and Data Interface (HEIDI) available on the website of the European Commission. http://ec.europa.eu/health-eu/my_lifestyle/alcohol/index_en.htm

2. We used Beer as low alcohol-content drink because it is the alcoholic beverage consumed most by young adults in Italy even if, considering the whole population, wine is the most drunk (see National Institute of Statistic, www.istat.it). In the last decades, in Italy wine consumption has been constantly decreasing and at the same time beer consumption has been growing.