Theory of Planned Behavior and alcohol use in adolescents in Ecuador. Structural linear regression analysis

The general aim is to identify the explanatory potential of alcohol use intentions in drinking behaviors in a sample of adolescents in Ecuador. The method consists of a descriptive, explanatory, and cross-sectional study using SEM techniques. The participants were 384 adolescents (57% male and 43% f...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcohol (Fayetteville, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2024-12, Vol.121, p.1-7
Main Authors: Moreta-Herrera, Rodrigo, Córdova-Sánchez, Sheyla, Jaramillo-Zambrano, Ana, Paredes-Proaño, Ana, Mascialino, Guido, Rojas-Jara, Claudio, Rodríguez-Lorenzana, Alberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adolescents
alcohol
consumption
intention
planned behavior
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Summary:The general aim is to identify the explanatory potential of alcohol use intentions in drinking behaviors in a sample of adolescents in Ecuador. The method consists of a descriptive, explanatory, and cross-sectional study using SEM techniques. The participants were 384 adolescents (57% male and 43% female), aged 14–18 years (M = 16.51; SD = 2.64), who are students attending between the 1st and 3rd year of high school in a public educational institution in Ambato, Ecuador. Like principal results, the presence of alcohol use intention is moderate; the practice of alcohol use is low and mostly does not represent a risk, although 3.9% of the participants could report significant problems with consumption. Intentionality and drinking covary positively with low and moderate intensity. Drinking Intentionality explained 15.3% of the variance of drinking. We conclude that the Alcohol Use Intentions are a predictor of adolescent drinking behaviors. •Alcohol use in adolescents is a widespread practice although its levels of consumption and adverse effects are still low.•Social cognition (attitudes, intentions, norms) associated with substance use are predictors of alcohol use in adolescents.•The effect of intentionality toward alcohol use specifically affects behaviors to control consumption.•The psychological intervention related to consumption must also be addressed considering the restructuring of cognition associated with the intentionality of consumption.
ISSN:0741-8329
1873-6823
1873-6823
DOI:10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.02.002