Consumo de álcool por universitários: uma explicação a partir da religiosidade e busca de sensações

Abstract

Sousa, K.P.A. (2018). Alcohol consumption by university students: an explanation based on religiosity and the search for sensations (Master's Dissertation). Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba, Piauí, Brazil. This study aimed to verify the extent to which religiosity and the search for sensations explain the consumption of alcohol. Therefore, two studies were developed. In the first, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was evaluated psychometrically in the Piauiense context. A total of 406 university students, with an average age of 23.31 years (SD = 5.73), the majority of females (68.2%), single (58.4%), and low-risk alcohol consumption (74.4%), who answered the AUDIT and sociodemographic questions. Descriptive analyzes, confirmatory factorial analyzes (AFC) and internal consistency were performed. The results indicated a better fit of the three-factor model [χ2 (32) = .89, p <.001; TLI = .99; CFI = .99; RSMEA = .036 (IC90% = .012- .056); ECVI = .30] and adequate internal consistency (α = .85, Ω = .89). Study 2 aimed to test the structure of AUDIT obtained in study 1; to verify the relationship between religiosity, search for sensations and alcohol consumption, as well as to evaluate the predictive capacity of religiosity and search for sensations regarding alcohol consumption. A total of 210 university students, with an average age of 21.29 years (SD = 4.39), most of them women (53.3%), who answered the instruments of study 1, plus the Religious Attitudes Scale (EAR-20) and of the Arnett Sensation Search Inventory (AISS) participated. Confirmatory analyzes were performed, in addition to correlations and multiple linear regression. The results indicated a satisfactory adjustment of the AUDIT (CFI = .99, TLI = .99, RMSEA = .039), confirming its three-factor structure. In addition, we identified negative and significant relationships between the EAR-20 and AUDIT factors, and a positive and significant correlation between AISS and AUDIT dimensions, as well as showing that the religious behavior factor (EAR-20) predicted the total score of the AUDIT (β = - .32, t = - 2.55, p < .01) and the alcohol consumption factor (β = - .37, t = 2.99, p < .003 ). It was concluded that the objectives of the study were achieved, with evidence of a self-report measure, to measure alcohol consumption patterns among university students, with assured psychometric qualities, as well as the presentation of explanatory variables that contribute to the understanding of alcohol consumption alcohol. Thus, it is hoped, with this work, to contribute to health prevention and promotion actions in the university space, besides contributing to the theoretical framework of social psychology, by providing empirical and theoretical data on the subject addressed here.