Self-Regulation of Student Drinking Behavior: Strength-Energy and Self-Determination Theory Perspectives

Student alcohol consumption is often portrayed as a significant problem of motivation and self-regulation. We adopted the strength-energy model (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Muraven, & Tice, 1998) and self-determination theory (SDT; Ryan & Deci, 2000) perspectives to explore when and how students regulate their drinking behavior. In a pilot study, we examined temporal relationships between students' alcohol consumption, self-regulatory (limitation) attempts, perceptions of ego-depletion, and alcohol-related temptation. Then, we conducted a diary study involving two independent samples recruited during Fall (Sample 1) and Winter (Sample 2) academic semesters. We tested the hypotheses that (1) ego-depletion at night mediates the relationship between self-control demands during the day and alcohol self-control failure at night, (2) daytime need satisfaction moderates the relationship between self-control demands during the day and experienced ego-depletion at night, and (3) the quality of students' self-regulation for limiting alcohol consumption moderates the relationship between ego-depletion and alcohol self-control failure at night. Multilevel analyses revealed that ego-depletion mediated the relationship between selfcontrol demands and alcohol self-control failure during the Fall semester only. Across both samples, findings showed a positive relationship between self-control demands and ego-depletion that was buffered by need satisfaction. Last, a positive association emerged between experienced ego-depletion and alcohol self-control failure during the Fall semester only, but this relationship was not moderated by the relative proportion of students' autonomous to controlled regulation for limiting alcohol consumption. We discuss important considerations for researchers adopting strength-energy model and SDT perspectives in applied health research, such as the temporal context and motivational salience of alcohol.