Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

School

Psychology

Committee Chair

Michael Madson, PhD

Committee Chair School

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Donald Sacco, PhD

Committee Member 2 School

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Bonnie Nicholson

Committee Member 3 School

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Eric Dahlen, PhD

Committee Member 4 School

Psychology

Abstract

Derived from a Social Cognitive Theory framework (Bandura, 1986), the aim of this study was to assess the impact of different drinking environments on college students’ expected use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies, perceived effectiveness of those strategies, and perceived self-efficacy to use them. To accomplish this, we sought out to create and employ experimental vignettes consisting of a bar/club or party drinking environment in a two-part study. Study one aimed to pilot test the vignettes prior to their use in study two, whose aim was to test our initial hypotheses. Both analytic samples were recruited from a nationwide participant recruitment platform named Prolific. Inclusion criteria were alcohol use in the past 30 days and currently taking at least half or more college courses in person. Study one consisted of 170 traditional aged college students (Mage = 21.24, SDage =1.56) who primarily identified as White (62.9%) and female (62.4%). Participants completed a demographic form, were randomly assigned to one vignette condition (i.e., bar/club or party), and were given measures of expected alcohol use and consequences. The second study consisted of 261 traditional aged college students (Mage = 21.33, SDage =1.57) who similarly primarily identified as White (64.4%) and female (61.3%). Participants were given a demographic form, were randomly assigned to one vignette condition, and given measures of expected alcohol protective behavioral strategy use and perceived strategy effectiveness, and self-efficacy to use strategies. T-tests revealed no significant difference among those who received the bar/club vignette versus the party vignette on expected alcohol use or consequences during study one. No significant differences emerged during Kruskal-Wallis tests between the bar/club and party vignette group on expected alcohol protective behavioral strategy use, perceived effectiveness, or perceived self-efficacy. These findings suggest that college student perceptions may not differentiate when using alcohol in a bar/club versus a party drinking environment. However, this is discrepant against previous literature depicting differences in alcohol use and consequences among these drinking environments. The inconsistency between college students’ perceptions and their reports of experiences may point toward other important and under-researched factors at play. Clinical implications are discussed.

ORCID ID

0000-0002-5590-5048

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