Larimer, MaryCanning, Jessica R2023-09-272023-09-272023Canning_washington_0250E_26041.pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/1773/50905Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2023Most commonly, college students report drinking for social facilitation, but do not report drinking equally across all social groups. Research is mixed on how composition of social groups impacts drinking behavior. Further, while much research has evaluated those who drink for social rewards, less research has focused on whether some individuals may have greater sensitivity to social rewards. Preliminary studies have found these broad social motives (BSM) to predict changes in drinking behavior over and above social drinking motives. Thus, further exploration into the circumstances in which those with BSM are more susceptible to heavy drinking is warranted. The current study aimed to fill these gaps by 1) investigating the measurement of BSM, 2) evaluating relations between BSM, peer group, and alcohol-related outcomes and 3) utilizing an innovative multimethod approach to predict natural drinking behavior from changes in risk-taking and self-administered alcohol use in a controlled lab setting. We hypothesized those with greater BSM and those drinking with their close friends, as opposed to new peers, would drink more and experience greater risky behaviors both in the lab and during naturalistic assessments. Further, higher number of drinks consumed and larger increases in risk-taking in the lab were expected to predict greater increase in drinking behavior on days where most drinking companions are close friends, compared to new peers. Results showed when socializing with groups on days where individuals experienced higher BSM than typical, the higher number of friends present in groups the more alcohol they consumed, and they reached a higher estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Yet, neither BSM nor number of friends were related to alcohol consequences. While consistent with existing literature and hypotheses, the robustness of effects is questionable. Not all aims were able to be thoroughly evaluated due to the unexpected onset of the COVID-19 pandemic during study recruitment.application/pdfen-USnonealcohol consequencesalcohol usecollegedrinkingsocial contextClinical psychologySocial psychologyBehavioral sciencesPsychologyThesis