HMN 2025: How Autonomy and intrinsic sense of control are linked to drinking behaviors and alcohol consequences

Individuals’ autonomy and sense of control are associated with the quantity and frequency of their alcohol consumption and its consequences, according to a new study examining latent self-determined motivational profiles underlying drinking behaviors. Drinking motives and personality traits predict alcohol use and outcomes. Better understanding these could help steer people who drink dangerously—e.g., young adults engaged in heavy episodic (binge) drinking—toward lower-risk consumption.

Arguably, research on drinking motives has overly focused on drinking for social or coping reasons. Self-Determination Theory (SDT), in contrast, captures a complex range of motives within individuals and characterizes them in terms of autonomy and a sense of control. Despite its relevance, SDT has not been widely applied in the context of alcohol research.

In a study published in Alcohol: Clinical & Experimental Research, investigators worked with 630 adults aged 18–57 (mean age 21; 83% White) to assess their self-determined drinking motives. Participants were scored on five behavioral regulations: intrinsic (e.g., drinking for fun), identified (e.g., drinking for specific benefits), positive introjected (e.g., drinking for confidence), external (e.g., drinking due to social pressure), and amotivational (e.g., drinking for unknown reasons).

Four drinking profiles

Based on their self-determined behavioral regulations for drinking, participants were sorted into four motivational profiles. Their level of extrinsic or intrinsic motivation was key:

• Aimless Drinkers (75 people, 12%) were particularly low in intrinsic regulation, suggesting little enjoyment of drinking and unclear motives. This profile leaned male.
• Flexible Drinkers (264, 42%) had average scores across all five regulations, suggesting they were equally motivated to drink by a variety of factors.
• The scores of Externally Controlled Drinkers (117, 28%) suggested amotivation and drinking for confidence and to comply with social pressure.
• Pleasure Drinkers (114 people, 18%), in contrast, seemed motivated by intrinsic enjoyment. This profile leaned toward older ages, perhaps reflecting a shift toward greater internal control over drinking with age.

The four profiles also differed by drinking frequency, intensity, and consequences. For example, aimless drinking was linked to riskier alcohol use and worse outcomes. Externally controlled drinking was associated with greater frequency and intensity of alcohol use and more negative consequences. Pleasure drinking was connected to lower alcohol use and the most positive experiences. The findings support the use of SDT to understand drinking motivation and suggest the value of harm reduction strategies targeting individuals with high-risk motivational profiles.

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