Abstract

PELTZER, Raquel I. et al. Binge drinking intention predictors in adolescents. Temas psicol. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.1, pp.183-192. ISSN 1413-389X.  https://doi.org/10.9788/TP2013.1-13.

Binge drinking (BD) is a public health problem that affects younger people. The study of cognitive motivational determinants of this consumption pattern is a growing and recently developed area. One theory that has proved to be adequate for the explanation of this behavior is the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This paper aims to study the relationship between BD intention, attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control in high school students, by gender. Method: The sampling was intentional, comprising high school students (n = 185) of the city of Mar del Plata (Argentina) from 12 -18 years old. A questionnaire was developed inquiring about: habitual consumption pattern, TPB variables, age and gender. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for men and women separately, considering intention as the dependent variable. Results: The main variable that predicted intention of BD, for both, males and females, was the attitude. The subjective norm was a predictor only in females. Conclusions: Beliefs and evaluations regarding the BD play a significant role in the disposition for the behavior. For females, subjective norms also affected intention of BD. While this study had some limitations, results highlight the importance of the study of cognitive motivational factors related to BD in adolescents by gender.

Keywords : Binge drinking; theory of planned behavior; adolescents.

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