Motivations for reducing alcohol consumption: An international survey exploring experiences that may lead to a change in drinking habits

Article


Davies, Emma L., Conroy, D., Winstock, Adam R. and Ferris, Jason 2017. Motivations for reducing alcohol consumption: An international survey exploring experiences that may lead to a change in drinking habits. Addictive Behaviors. 75, pp. 40-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.06.019
AuthorsDavies, Emma L., Conroy, D., Winstock, Adam R. and Ferris, Jason
Abstract

Aims

Brief interventions delivered by doctors and other healthcare practitioners might be meaningfully enhanced by understanding what individual experiences might lead patients to cut down. The aim of the current paper was to explore the experiences that might lead people to reduce their alcohol consumption and to compare these findings between respondents from 21 different countries.
Methods

Global Drug Survey is an online cross sectional, opportunistic anonymous survey. This paper includes 72,209 respondents from 21 counties with over 250 respondents (60.8% male).
Results

Almost a third (32.9%) of participants reported that they would like to drink less alcohol over the next 12 months, and a third thought their GP would tell them to cut down if they were honest about their drinking. The primary experiences that were rated as most likely to lead to a change in behaviour were related to physical health, sexual assault and having to seek emergency medical treatment. Respondents from Germany were more likely to select embarrassment as a motivation to reduce drinking than those from other counties. Females were more likely to report indicate motivations related to sexual regret, sexual assault or seeking treatment. Older participants and those in the low risk audit category were more likely to report embarrassment or forgetfulness as potential motivation for change.
Conclusion

Understanding the different motivations that may lead individuals to change their drinking behaviours can be used to inform targeted brief interventions and targeted public health guidance.

JournalAddictive Behaviors
Journal citation75, pp. 40-46
ISSN03064603
Year2017
PublisherElsevier
Accepted author manuscript
License
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.06.019
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.06.019
Publication dates
Online30 Jun 2017
Publication process dates
Deposited04 Apr 2018
Accepted29 Jun 2017
Accepted29 Jun 2017
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/84v3q

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 178
    total views
  • 492
    total downloads
  • 3
    views this month
  • 56
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Understanding Motivation to Adhere to Guidelines for Alcohol Intake, Physical Activity, and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among U.K. University Students
de Visser, R. O., Conroy, D., Davies, E. L. and Cooke, R. 2021. Understanding Motivation to Adhere to Guidelines for Alcohol Intake, Physical Activity, and Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among U.K. University Students. Health Education and Behavior. 48 (4), pp. 480-487. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198120988251
‘Maturing Out’ as dilemmatic: Transitions towards relatively light drinking practices among UK University students
Conroy, D., Morton, C. and Griffin, C. 2021. ‘Maturing Out’ as dilemmatic: Transitions towards relatively light drinking practices among UK University students. British Journal of Health Psychology. 26 (3), pp. 902-916. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12511
Possibilities and pitfalls? Moderate drinking and alcohol abstinence at home since the COVID-19 lockdown
Nicholls, E. and Conroy, D. 2020. Possibilities and pitfalls? Moderate drinking and alcohol abstinence at home since the COVID-19 lockdown. International Journal of Drug Policy. 88 (Art. 103025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103025
A more fluid approach to drinking
Conroy, D. and Measham, Fiona 2020. A more fluid approach to drinking. The Psychologist. 33, pp. 52-55.
Imagery, Visualization, and Mental Simulation Interventions
Hagger, M. S. and Conroy, D. 2020. Imagery, Visualization, and Mental Simulation Interventions. in: Hagger, M. S., Cameron, L. D., Hamilton, K., Hankonen, N. and Lintunen, T. (ed.) The Handbook of Behavior Change Cambridge University Press. pp. 479-494
All in this together?
Conroy, D. and Nicholls, E. 2020. All in this together? The Psychologist.
‘Man up!’: Discursive constructions of non-drinkers among UK undergraduates
Conroy, D. and de Visser, Richard 2013. ‘Man up!’: Discursive constructions of non-drinkers among UK undergraduates. Journal of Health Psychology. 18 (11), pp. 1432-1444. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105312463586
Being a non-drinking student: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Conroy, D. and de Visser, Richard 2013. Being a non-drinking student: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Psychology and Health. 29 (5), pp. 536-551. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2013.866673
Efficacy of a non-drinking mental simulation intervention for reducing student alcohol consumption
Conroy, D., Sparks, Paul and de Visser, Richard 2015. Efficacy of a non-drinking mental simulation intervention for reducing student alcohol consumption. British Journal of Health Psychology. 20 (4), pp. 688-707. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12133
The importance of authenticity for student non-drinkers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Conroy, D. and de Visser, Richard 2015. The importance of authenticity for student non-drinkers: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Journal of Health Psychology. 20 (11), pp. 1483-1493. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105313514285
Imagery Interventions in Health Behavior: A Meta-Analysis
Conroy, D. and Hagger, Martin S. 2018. Imagery Interventions in Health Behavior: A Meta-Analysis. Health Psychology. 37 (7), pp. 668-679. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0000625
Negative Experiences of Non-Drinking College Students in Great Britain: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Jacobs, Lisa, Conroy, D. and Parke, Adrian 2018. Negative Experiences of Non-Drinking College Students in Great Britain: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 16 (3), pp. 737-750. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9848-6
Benefits and drawbacks of social non-drinking identified by British university students
Conroy, D. and de Visser, Richard O. 2017. Benefits and drawbacks of social non-drinking identified by British university students. Drug and Alcohol Review. 37 (S1), pp. S89-S97. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12610
Understanding the Association Between Relative Sociability Prototypes and University Students' Drinking Intention
Conroy, D. and de Visser, Richard 2016. Understanding the Association Between Relative Sociability Prototypes and University Students' Drinking Intention. Substance Use & Misuse. 51 (14), pp. 1831-1837. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2016.1197939