Factor Analysis of Internal and External Self-Control Practices for Alcohol Consumption

Abstract

A factor analysis of specific alcohol-related self-control practices reported by 410 young adults who completed a Self-control Questionnaire, consisting of both internal and external self-control measures, is described. Seven factors were extracted from the external self-control items including Rate Control, Self-reinforcement and Punishment, Alternatives, Avoidance, Limiting Driving and Cash, Controlling Time and Food, and Awareness. Three factors emerged from the internal self-control items including Impairment, Relaxation, and Anxiousness. These specific groupings of external and internal self-control variables should be empirically tested for their utility as interventions aimed at moderating the alcohol consumption of young adults.

The relationship between drinking control strategies and college student alcohol use.

“…The second factor in our study consisted of strategies used while drinking, which represent ways a drinker can control rate of consumption and manage BAC. Strategies loading on this factor resembled Werch and Gorman's (1986) Rate Control factor, Miller and Muñoz's (2005) 'while you drink' strategies, and the Protective Behavioral Strategies described by Martens et al (2004). However, this factor is broader than the set developed by Martens et al (2004), which are limited to strategies used while consuming alcohol.…”

“…Factor analysis of the Self-Control Questionnaire revealed seven factors for external self-control strategies: Rate Control, Self-reinforcement and Punishment, Alternatives, Avoidance, Limiting Driving and Cash, Controlling Time and Food, and Awareness. In addition, three factors for internal self-control were identified: Impairment, Relaxation, and Anxiousness (Werch & Gorman, 1986). …”

“…In this study, participants in the moderate self-control category reported the greatest mean alcohol consumption (number of drinking days last month and number of drinks per occasion). Participants who rarely used strategies and participants who often used strategies reported lower alcohol consumption than participants who sometimes used strategies.This series of studies (Werch, 1990;Werch & Gorman, 1986;1988) established the relevance of drinking control strategies for college drinkers and suggested that strategy use was related to alcohol consumption in somewhat complex ways. However, drinking control strategies were identified in these studies as a heterogeneous set of internal cues, avoidance behaviors, and self-management strategies.…”

“…This series of studies (Werch, 1990;Werch & Gorman, 1986;1988) established the relevance of drinking control strategies for college drinkers and suggested that strategy use was related to alcohol consumption in somewhat complex ways. However, drinking control strategies were identified in these studies as a heterogeneous set of internal cues, avoidance behaviors, and self-management strategies.…”

Brief Multiple Behavior Interventions in a College Student Health Care Clinic

“…Sleep habits were measured using both quantity of sleep in hours each night, and frequency of getting enough sleep, taken from prior research on sleep patterns [25,26] (Alpha=.78). A 17-item measure of self-control behaviors used in the past 30-days to avoid or limit alcohol, cigarette, or marijuana consumption was adopted from previous research examining youth alcohol self-control [27,28] (Alpha=.88). Frequency of five techniques used to relieve stress in the past 30-days was adopted from a measure of health promotion for adolescents [29] (Alpha=.60).…”