Introduction

The current study examines the norms-behavior link by investigating a novel cognition for protective behavioral strategies (PBS)—descriptive and injunctive norms for close friends’ reasons to use PBS (e.g., limit drinking, reduce consequences)—in relation to one’s own perception of usefulness and personal use of PBS. Further, we tested whether the association between perceived norms for reasons to use PBS and personal PBS use was mediated by perceived usefulness of PBS.

Methods

College student drinkers ages 18–24 [N = 301; 53% female, 69% White, mean age = 20.16 years (SD = 1.54)] were recruited for a larger study. Eligible students reported alcohol use 2+ days a week and 1+ occasions of heavy episodic drinking in the last two weeks. Linear regression tested whether descriptive and injunctive norms for reasons to use PBS were associated with perceived usefulness and personal use of PBS; path analysis was used to test mediation. All analyses were conducted by PBS subscale (limiting/stopping, serious harm reduction, manner of drinking).

Results

Descriptive norms for reasons to use PBS (i.e., perceptions that close friends use PBS to reduce drinking/consequences) were positively associated with perceived usefulness and personal PBS use for limiting/stopping and to some extent manner of drinking. For each subscale, the association between descriptive norms for reasons to use PBS and personal PBS use was mediated by perceived usefulness of PBS. Results were not significant for injunctive norms.

Conclusions

Findings suggest descriptive norms, rather than injunctive norms, for close friends’ reasons to use PBS, may be relevant for inclusion in brief interventions.

中文翻译：

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了解保护性行为策略的感知有用性和实际使用：由于年轻成年饮酒者使用保护性行为策略的原因，感知规范的作用。

介绍

目前的研究通过调查保护性行为策略 (PBS) 的新认知——亲密朋友使用 PBS 的原因（例如，限制饮酒，减少后果）的描述性和禁令性规范——与自己的看法相关，来检查规范-行为的联系PBS 的实用性和个人用途。此外，我们测试了出于使用 PBS 的原因的感知规范与个人 PBS 使用之间的关联是否受 PBS 的感知有用性介导。

方法

18-24 岁的大学生饮酒者 [ N  = 301; 53% 的女性，69% 的白人，平均年龄 = 20.16 岁 ( SD  = 1.54)] 被招募进行更大的研究。符合条件的学生报告称，在过去两周内每周饮酒 2 天以上，并且偶尔酗酒 1 次以上。线性回归测试了出于使用 PBS 的原因的描述性和禁令性规范是否与 PBS 的感知有用性和个人使用相关；路径分析用于测试中介。所有分析均通过 PBS 分量表（限制/停止、严重减少危害、饮酒方式）进行。

结果

使用 PBS 的原因的描述性规范（即，亲密的朋友使用 PBS 来减少饮酒/后果的看法）与感知有用性和个人 PBS 用于限制/停止和在某种程度上的饮酒方式呈正相关。对于每个分量表，使用 PBS 的原因的描述性规范与个人 PBS 使用之间的关联是由 PBS 的感知有用性介导的。结果对禁令规范不显着。

结论

结果表明，出于亲密朋友使用 PBS 的原因，描述性规范而不是禁令性规范可能与包含在简短干预中有关。