From perceived peer drinking norms to alcohol use problems: a serial mediation model examining the roles of drinking motives and binge drinking

Peer drinking norms are crucial predictors of college students’ alcohol use problems. Yet, little is known about the factors underlying this link among students who are in the first- and second-year of college. This study examined the indirect relationships between perceived peer drinking norms and alcohol use problems via drinking motives and binge drinking among the first- and second-year college students. Five hundred and nineteen (Mage = 19.19, SD = 0.98, 49.3% female) first- and second-year Chinese college students who had at least a heavy drinking occasion in the past year were surveyed. Participants completed measures of perceived peer drinking norms, drinking motives, binge drinking, and alcohol-related problems. Results revealed that stronger perceived peer drinking norms were associated with higher levels of binge drinking and alcohol-related problems. Both drinking for coping motives and binge drinking frequency mediated the effects of perceived peer drinking norms on alcohol-related problems respectively. The enhancement drinking motives and binge drinking frequency served as serial mediators in the association between perceived peer drinking norms and alcohol-related problems. Overall, drinking motives and binge drinking provide fruitful insight into the effects of perceived peer drinking norms on alcohol use problems among lowerclassmen. Implications for prevention and intervention strategies and future research are discussed.