Psicothema was founded in Asturias (northern Spain) in 1989, and is published jointly by the Psychology Faculty of the University of Oviedo and the Psychological Association of the Principality of Asturias (Colegio Oficial de Psicología del Principado de Asturias).
We currently publish four issues per year, which accounts for some 100 articles annually. We admit work from both the basic and applied research fields, and from all areas of Psychology, all manuscripts being anonymously reviewed prior to publication.
Fermín Fernández-Calderón1,2, Adrián J. Bravo3, Carmen Díaz-Batanero1,2, Joseph J. Palamar4, and José Carmona-Márquez1,2
1 University of Huelva,
2 Research Center on Natural Resources, Health and the Environment,
3 William & Mary, Williamsburg (USA), and
4 New York University Grossman School of Medicine (USA)
Background: Protective behavioral strategies (PBS) have been shown to be useful for reducing excessive alcohol use and alcohol-related problems. However, research on the explanatory factors of PBS is limited. This paper prospectively examines the contribution of perceived efficacy of PBS in reducing alcohol-related consequences and perceived descriptive norms of close peers´ PBS use in young adults. The mediating role of perceived efficacy of PBS between descriptive norms of PBS use and personal PBS use is also examined. Method: Targeted sampling was used to recruit a community-based sample of 339 young Spanish adults aged 18-25 years, who completed baseline and two-month follow-up questionnaires. Three types of PBS (serious harm reduction-SHR, manner of drinking-MOD, and stopping/limiting drinking-SLD) were measured. Results: Both perceived efficacy and descriptive norms at baseline were positively associated with personal PBS use (SHR, MOD and SLD) at follow-up. A partial mediation effect of perceived efficacy between descriptive norms and personal PBS use was found for the three PBS subscales. Conclusions: Our findings support the usefulness of correcting misperceptions of PBS use by peers in interventions aimed at reducing excessive drinking and alcohol-related consequences in young adults in the community. Moreover, PBS perceived efficacy should be included as a component of these interventions.
Uso de Estrategias Conductuales de Protección Entre Jóvenes-Adultos Españoles: un estudio Prospectivo de la Eficacia Percibida y las Normas Sociales. Antecedentes: las estrategias conductuales de protección (ECP) han mostrado utilidad para reducir el consumo excesivo de alcohol y sus problemas asociados, aunque la investigación sobre sus factores explicativos es escasa. Este trabajo examina la contribución de la eficacia percibida de las ECP para reducir las consecuencias negativas del alcohol, y la norma descriptiva percibida del uso de PBS de los iguales, en adultos jóvenes. Además, analiza el papel mediador de la eficacia percibida entre norma descriptiva y ECP. Método: mediante muestreo dirigido a poblaciones diana, 339 jóvenes españoles (18-25 años) comunitarios cumplimentaron cuestionarios basal y de seguimiento (dos meses), midiéndose tres tipos de ECP (reducción de daños-RR, forma de beber-FB, parar/limitar el consumo-PLC). Resultados: eficacia y norma se asociaron positivamente con el uso de ECP (RR/FB/PLC) en el seguimiento. Para los tres tipos de ECP se detectó un efecto de mediación parcial de la eficacia percibida entre la norma y el uso de ECP. Conclusiones: corregir percepciones erróneas del uso de ECP de los iguales puede ser útil en las intervenciones dirigidas a reducir el uso excesivo de alcohol y sus consecuencias en adultos jóvenes comunitarios, al igual que la inclusión de la eficacia percibida como uno de sus componentes.
SPANISH
ENGLISH
https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2021.413