Examining the Complex Interplay of Stress, Social Support, and Drinking Motives on Alcohol Use Behaviors: A Moderated Mediation Model Among College Students

Author

Sabrina Perrin, CUNY City CollegeFollow

Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Adriana Espinosa

Second Advisor

Robert D. Melara

Third Advisor

Laura Brandt

Keywords

stress, alcohol use, social support, coping, college students

Abstract

College student alcohol use remains a public health concern, yet the psychological and social mechanisms that contribute to high-risk drinking patterns are not fully understood. Guided by the motivational model of alcohol use and stress-buffering theory, this study tested a moderated mediation model to examine how perceived stress, coping motives for drinking, and perceived social support interact to influence alcohol use behaviors. A sample of over 1,100 diverse urban college students completed measures of stress, social support, drinking motives, and four alcohol-related outcomes: binge drinking, frequency of alcoholic drinks consumed, negative drinking consequences, and use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) used while consuming alcohol. Results indicated that coping-related drinking motives significantly mediated the relationship between perceived stress and all alcohol outcomes except PBS use. However, perceived social support did not moderate the association between stress and coping motives, and in some cases, was positively associated with risky drinking patterns, particularly in peer-related contexts. These findings highlight the nuanced role of social support and underscore the importance of addressing coping-related motivations in alcohol prevention efforts. Implications for harm reduction and campus-based intervention strategies are discussed.

Recommended Citation

Perrin, Sabrina, "Examining the Complex Interplay of Stress, Social Support, and Drinking Motives on Alcohol Use Behaviors: A Moderated Mediation Model Among College Students" (2025). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1205