Background: This study examined the relationship between alcohol use, protective behavioral strategies, and self-determination among young adults. Young adults may be particularly prone to risky forms of alcohol use (e.g., heavy episodic drinking) and the resulting negative consequences. Protective behavioral strategies are behaviors used to reduce negative consequences arising from alcohol use. Based on existing literature, autonomous motivation as defined in self-determination theory and the satisfaction of psychological needs may influence these factors and have potential implications for interventions. The main objective of this research is to examine the four-factor structure of the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire in a young adult sample from Hungary, and to explore the association between autonomous motivation related to responsible alcohol use, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, protective behavioral strategies, and the extent of harmful alcohol use.
Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional questionnaire survey with a total of 272 participants (32.4% male, 67.6% female, average age 23.8 years). The questionnaire package included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale, Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire, and the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale.
Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a modified four-factor structure (amotivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, and autonomous motivation) with the best fi t indices. Autonomous motivation and satisfaction of basic psychological needs showed significant positive, moderate to strong correlations with the frequency of protective strategies use and significant negative, moderate to strong correlations with the extent of harmful alcohol use. There was a significant positive, weak association between autonomous motivation and satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Mediation analysis indicated that protective behavioral strategies partially mediate the relationship between autonomous motivation and harmful alcohol use.
Conclusions: These results are consistent with other literature findings, suggesting that the questionnaire could be applied in future research. Furthermore, both autonomous motivation and satisfaction of basic psychological needs may increase the frequency of protective strategies use and reduce the extent of harmful alcohol use.
Keywords: alcohol consumption; autonomous motivation basic psychological needs.; protective behavioral strategies; self-determination.