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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Tim Bogg
Abstract
Objective: This study utilized a transtheoretical framework, examining how personality traits, social cognitions (such as ethnic-racial identity, minority perception, and sense of belonging), and student role investments influence alcohol-related decision-making in Black and African American college students (N = 186). Participants indicated their attendance and alcohol consumption in scenarios with varying reward and punishment levels. It was hypothesized that neuroticism, behavioral activation (fun seeking), disengagement coping, experiences of discrimination, and drinking norms would positively affect high-risk scenario involvement. In contrast, self-control, spirituality, sense of belonging, ethnic-racial identity, majority/minority perceptions, and student role investment would have negative effects. Lower risk involvement was expected to be influenced by lower self-control, greater behavioral activation (fun seeking), and drinking norms. Exploratory analyses tested the effects of ethnic-racial identity subscales (private, public, and centrality) and group differences based on demographics. A pilot study (N = 51) examined responses to momentary, race-related stressors an experimentally tested the effect of microaggressions and microaffirmations on positive and negative affect.Methods: Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping procedures was used to test direct, indirect, and total effects on high and lower-risk scenario involvement. High and lower scenario involvement were identified as latent factors indicated by scenario responses. Exploratory analyses replicated the original model but indicated additional pathways involving ethnic-racial identity subscales and enhancement drinking motives on high-risk involvement. Results: Bivariate associations revealed significant correlations between predictors and demographics, which were used as covariates in the final model. The original model showed direct effects of self-control on lower high-risk involvement and behavioral activation and enhancement drinking motives on lower risk involvement. Enhancement was a significant mediator for the effect of behavioral activation (fun seeking) on lower risk involvement. While in the original model overall ethnic-racial identity did not affect either level of risk, exploratory analyses showed unique effects for greater ethnic-racial identity (private) on lower high-risk involvement and greater ethnic-racial identity (public) on lower risk involvement. The pilot study demonstrated significant mean differences in affect for students exposed to microaggression compared to both the neutral and role-affirming conditions. Conclusions: The results support various dispositional and environmental factors that contribute to varying levels of risk in decision-making for Black college students. Exploratory results suggest that ethnic-racial identity subscales should continue to be studied independently to examine predictors and pathways for risky decision-making. The pilot study suggests additional complexities in Black college student drinking behaviors that can further elucidate risky alcohol-related decision-making processes.
Recommended Citation
Milad, Elizabeth, "A Complex Systems Approach To Identifying Risk Factors For Drinking Decision-Making In Black College Students" (2024). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4102.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4102