Roderick S. Carman

Motivations for drug use and problematic outcomes among rural junior high school students.

Abstract Personal, social and experiential motivations for drug use were investigated among rural high school students in terms of problematic outcomes as measured by reported frequency of intoxication and number of social complications. Results indicate that while problematic outcomes are significantly associated with increased number of reported motivations in all categories, when proportion scores are examined only personal effects motivations remain significantly related to problematic use. As suggested by previous research on the relationship of motivation and outcome in the use of alcohol, it seems likely that motivations which link the use of other drugs to a need for alteration of self-perception or for assistance in coping with stress are important in the development of problematic use patterns.

Internal-External Control and Motivations for Alcohol Use among High School Students

Internal-External locus of control and alcohol use were investigated among high school students, and it was found that external control was positively related to problem-oriented motivations and social complications. A developmental model for the relationship between I-E control and drinking is proposed.

Alienation and drinking motivations among adolescent females.

The present study examined a hypothesized relation between alienation and stated motivations for alcohol use. It was predicted that such a relation would emerge more clearly among adolescent females than among adolescent males, and this prediction was confirmed. Among females, problem-related drinking motivations correlated positively with alienation, whereas social-convivial motivations correlated negatively with this attribute. No comparable correlations were found among the male subjects. It was concluded that important sex differences in the dynamics of problem drinking in our society are worthy of additional study.

Gender Differences in Drinking Motivations and Outcomes

To investigate gender differences in the dynamics of alcohol use, we gathered self-reported data from male and female college students. Results of our experiment showed that dominance power motivations were correlated with negative drinking outcomes for both men and women; assertiveness power motivations were associated with negative outcomes only for women. For both sexes, a higher proportion of positive social motivations was associated with fewer negative drinking outcomes. We expect that, in addition to the more traditionally defined needs for dominance power shown to be important for drinking among men, women may use alcohol in relation to needs for assertiveness and self-expression.

Gender Differences in the Relationship of Drinking Motivations and Outcomes

Questionnaire data were used to test the hypothesis that stated motivations for drinking would be more directly related to drinking outcomes among adolescent girls than among adolescent boys. Evidence in support of this hypothesis was found, and we suggest that this gender difference might be due to different norms and role expectations in regard to drinking by boys and men and girls and women in our society.

Internal-External Control and Drug Use among Junior High School Students in a Rural Community

Internal-external (I-E) control and current drug use were assessed among rural junior high school students. As expected, a negative relationship was found between internal control and drug use quantity-frequency. Correlations involving I-E control and drug use outcomes, while in the expected direction, were not significant. Data from the junior high sample were compared with previously collected high school data, and it was found that while overall patterns of use were similar for the two groups, the junior high students report lower quantity-frequency and more social complications.

Expectations, Alienation, and Drinking Motives among College Men and Women

Relationships among three motivational variables (negative-personal functions of drinking, alienation, and perceived discrepancies between valued goals and expected success toward valued goals) were evaluated in a group of 257 college drinkers. As predicted, a positive relationship between alienation scores and the extent of discrepancies between values and expectations for academic and social success was found. Negative-personal drinking functions were positively associated with both alienation and value-expectation discrepancies. Results are discussed in terms of heuristic consistency and potential applications.

Drinking motivations and alcohol consumption among adolescent females.

The relationship between motivations for alcohol use and drinking patterns was investigated within a sample of 188 adolescent American female high school students. Previous research has revealed a positive correlation between problem-solving drinking motivations and alienation among similar samples. It was predicted that such stated motivations for drinking would correlate positively with heavier rates of drinking in this population. This hypothesis was supported in terms of quantity and frequency of wine, beer, and liquor intake.

Values, Expectations, and Drug Use Among High School Students in a Rural Community

Rotters Social Learning Theory of Personality was used to investigate relationships among values for certain goals, expectations for achieving these goals, and self-reported drug use among high school students. It was hypothesized that students with low “freedom of movement” in important goal areas (low expectations and high values) would report (1) heavier drug usage, (2) more frequent periods of intoxication, and (3) more drug-related social complications. Support for the hypothesis was found. Low freedom of movement in the goal area of recognition-achievement did correlate with drug use in the predicted fashion, especially in the case of barbiturate and hallucinogen use.

Drinking among College Students: Are Consumption Rates Increasing?

Alcohol consumption rates of college students in 1981 are compared with a similar sample taken in 1965 using the same measures. No evidence is found for a change in consumption rates among college students during this time interval.