Readiness to change, norms, and self-efficacy among heavy-drinking college students.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the readiness to change of college heavy drinkers and their normative and self-efficacy beliefs.

Method: A multiple regression method analyzed the association in a heavy-drinker subsample (n=306; men = 53.3%) drawn from a survey of a convenience sample of college students in two large-size midwestern universities.

Results: Precontemplation was most strongly associated with the descriptive and injunctive norms of campus peers as well as friends. Contemplation was significantly associated with descriptive and injunctive norms of friends. The size of association between readiness and normative beliefs decreased as the readiness progressed. Both precontemplation and contemplation were negatively associated with self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Differences in readiness to change are related to different normative and self-efficacy beliefs to different degrees. Incorporating these differences could improve the effectiveness of future interventions. In particular, addressing friends' norms in addition to campus norms could help increase self-efficacy and facilitate the behavioral change process of college heavy drinkers.