How Specific is Alcohol-Specific Self-Control? A Longitudinal Study of the Mediating Role of Alcohol-Specific Self-Control in the Relation Between General Self-Control and Adolescent Alcohol Use

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Abstract

Although accumulating studies indicate that alcohol-specific self-control can be useful in predicting adolescent alcohol use, little is known about its specificity. This longitudinal study aimed to advance our understanding of domain-specific self-control by examining whether alcohol-specific self-control mediates the effect of general self-control on adolescent alcohol use or has generalizing effects by also mediating the effect of general self-control on other behavior requiring self-control (adolescent digital media use and smoking). Data from 906 adolescents aged 11-14 years who were enrolled in the Dutch study Prevention of Alcohol Use in Students were used. Data were collected using online questionnaires at four annual measurements. Structural equation modelling revealed that higher alcohol-specific self-control fully mediated the effect of higher general self-control on alcohol use. Alcohol-specific self-control did not mediate the effect of higher general self-control on digital media use, but did partially mediate the effect of higher general self-control on smoking. These results suggest that alcohol-specific self-control is domain-specific, but not necessarily substance-specific. The domain-specificity of alcohol-specific self-control provides evidence for its theoretical relevance for the explanation of adolescent alcohol use. It also suggests leverage points for intervention programs focusing on improving alcohol-specific self-control to reduce adolescent alcohol use.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)501-520
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Prevention
Volume44
Issue number5
Early online date28 Jun 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).

Funding

The data collection of this study was supported by the Dutch Health Care Research Organization (Z.O.N.-M.W) under Grant 6220, 0021. The funding body had no role in the design of the study and collection, nor in the analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.

FundersFunder number
Dutch Health Care Research Organization

    Keywords

    • adolescents
    • alcohol use
    • alcohol-specific self-control
    • domain-specific
    • general self-control

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