Do hypothetical evaluations of alcohol related consequences change over time? Examining the influence of past and ongoing consequences

• Published in: Addictive behaviors Vol. 154; p. 108022
• Main Authors: Feltus, Sage R., Mastroleo, Nadine R., Carey, Kate B., DiBello, Angelo M., Magill, Molly, Merrill, Jennifer E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking in College; Alcohol use; Alcohol-related consequences; Consequence evaluations; Female; Humans; Male; Mandated college students; Students; Time Perception; Universities; Alcohol-related consequences; Mandated college students; Consequence evaluations; Alcohol use
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2024.108022

•Described hypothetical subjective evaluations of alcohol consequences among mandated college students.•Examined change in hypothetical subjective evaluations across time.•Contrary to hypotheses, evaluations became less negative over 3 months.•Baseline experienced consequences did not significantly moderate change in evalautions.•Time-varying experienced consequences had no significant effect on same-timepoint evaluations.
Despite experiencing alcohol-related consequences, college students continue to drink at high rates. Hypothetical evaluations of alcohol-related consequences (i.e., evaluations of where potential/hypothetical consequences lie on a spectrum from extremely positive to extremely negative) may contribute to the maintenance of drinking patterns among students. The purpose of the present study was to describe hypothetical evaluations in a sample of students mandated to an alcohol intervention, examine changes over time, and investigate the influence of both baseline and time-varying experienced consequences. Method: This study was a secondary data analysis from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Participants were 474 mandated students (Mage = 18.65; 55.5 % male, 77.6 % White). Students completed an initial baseline assessment of demographics, alcohol use, consequences, and hypothetical evaluations, and 3-month and 9-month follow-up assessments that included hypothetical evaluations and experienced consequences. Results: Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses revealed significant change in hypothetical evaluations over time such that they became less negative. A piecewise model demonstrated that this change happened between baseline and 3-month, with no additional change between 3-month and 9-month. The experience of consequences at baseline did not significantly moderate changes in either time interval. Time-varying consequences also had no significant effect on same-timepoint hypothetical evaluations. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine changes in hypothetical evaluations over time among mandated college students. Counter to expectations, hypothetical evaluations became less negative at 3-month follow-up. Though preliminary, findings add to the understanding of hypothetical evaluations of alcohol-related consequences.