Predicting Motivation to Change

Abstract

Motivation to decrease alcohol consumption has been a focus of past research with college students. However studies on the predictors of motivation among college students have produced mixed results. There is some theoretical support that specific types of alcohol-related problems and life satisfaction are related to the degree to which a drinker is motivated to change. The literature appears to lack studies that have investigated the effects of specific types or groupings of alcohol-related problems on motivation to change. The present study investigated the role specific types of alcohol-related problems play in predicting motivation, as well as testing a model that includes life satisfaction as a predictive factor of motivation. Structural equation modeling revealed that abuse/dependence alcohol-related problems and life satisfaction fit a meditational model predicting motivation. The model suggests that the predictive value of life satisfaction on motivation is partially mediated by abuse/dependence related problems, and that social and personal alcohol-related problems do not account for any unique variance in motivation. Furthermore depressed life satisfaction predicted greater motivation as well as greater endorsement of abuse/dependence related problems. Clinical implications and further research are discussed.