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01-12-2007 | Original Paper

Associations between aspects of spiritual well-being, alcohol use, and related social-cognitions in female college students

Authors: D. D. VonDras, R. R. Schmitt, D. Marx

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 4/2007

Abstract

This research explores relationships between aspects of spiritual well-being, alcohol use and related social-cognitions in college women. The sample included 151 female college students ranging in age from 18 to 25 years. Participants read a behavioral vignette depicting alcohol use by a student and completed a survey that included measures of alcohol use, counterfactual attributions and beliefs about drinking, as well as religious and existential aspects of spiritual well-being. Results suggested religious- and existential well-being to be inversely associated with indices of alcohol use and the likelihood of attending a social event where alcohol is present. Further, religious well-being was found to be negatively associated with beliefs concerning the social-effects of alcohol, while existential well-being was observed to be a significant predictor of a composite set of attributions related to alcohol prevention. Importantly, these data suggest religious and existential aspects of spiritual well-being as moderators of behavior as well as causal attributions and beliefs that represent a cognitive mechanism of alcohol prevention in college women. Use of counterfactual exercises as an educational technique, and potential barriers of religious and existential oriented prevention programs are briefly discussed.

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Title: Associations between aspects of spiritual well-being, alcohol use, and related social-cognitions in female college students
Authors: D. D. VonDras
R. R. Schmitt
D. Marx
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-007-9119-0

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Associations between aspects of spiritual well-being, alcohol use, and related social-cognitions in female college students

Abstract

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