Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2005

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Thomas J. Johnson

Second Advisor

Lee Ann Kaskutas

Third Advisor

Michael J. Murphy

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship between volunteer helping and alcohol use and drinking problems in a sample of 396 college students. Two pilot studies were conducted to adapt a measure of helping behavior (Kaskutas, Oberste, & Zemore, 2002) for use with college students. The present study tests the hypothesis that students who help others are less likely to consume alcohol and subsequently less likely to suffer alcohol-related problems than their peers. Additionally, a path model specifying mediators between helping behaviors and drinking outcomes was examined. The proposed path model predicted that volunteer helping affects well being and perceived peer drinking environment, which were expected to influence drinking motives and consequently alcohol consumption and drinking problems. Secondary analyses examined 1) another path model predicting that an intrinsic or altruistic motive for helping (helping due to holding speci fie values) mediates the relationship between religiosity and spirituality and helping behaviors, and 2) the potential moderation of the relationship between volunteer helping and well being by an intrinsic, value based motive for helping. Results of preliminary analyses on the helping behavior measure indicated four distinct types of helping. Two of these types of helping were significantly associated (inversely) with drinking and drinking problems in the present sample. The primary path model was generally supported with minor alterations. Likewise, the secondary path model appeared to fit the data well, after minor adjustments to the proposed model. Values based motives moderated the relationship between helping behavior and positive affect for three of the helping behaviors, but in the opposite direction than predicted. Ovcral L the data provided preliminary support for the notion of a connection between college student drinking and alcohol use and alcohol-related problems.

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