Drinking to Fit in: Examining the Need to Belong as a Moderator of Perceptions of Best Friends' Alcohol Use and Related Risk Cognitions Among College Students

Dana M. Litt, Michelle L. Stock, Melissa A. Lewis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

The primary objective of the present study was to examine whether the need to belong moderates the relation between perceived descriptive norms for best friend alcohol use and alcohol-related cognitions outlined in the Prototype Willingness model (i.e., willingness, attitudes, and prototype favorability) among college students. Three hundred forty-six college students (197 female) completed the survey. Regression results indicated that the effect of perceptions of best friend alcohol use on risk cognitions was stronger among students reporting a greater need to belong. The findings suggest that interventions utilizing descriptive norms may be more efficacious among those higher in a need to belong.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)313-321
Number of pages9
JournalBasic and Applied Social Psychology
Volume34
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2012

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