Basic psychological need satisfaction and drinking motives: The protective role of autonomy and competence needs among college students of Mexican descent

Objective Research on basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPN) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) has produced mixed findings, highlighting the need to clarify how BPN relates to drinking motives, which are direct predictors of alcohol use. Cultural factors, including ethnic identity, may also shape drinking motives among Hispanic young adults. This study examined associations among BPN satisfaction, ethnic identity, drinking motives, HED, and alcohol related consequences in undergraduates of Mexican descent. Methods Undergraduate students ( n = 443; M age = 22.6, SD = 5.09; 67.9% female; 83.7% Mexican American) at a Hispanic Serving Institution completed measures of BPN satisfaction, ethnic identity, drinking motives, typical drinking quantity, and alcohol related consequences. Path analysis assessed direct and indirect associations between basic psychological need satisfaction and ethnic identity, drinking motives, HED, and alcohol-related consequences. Results Greater satisfaction of autonomy predicted lower enhancement (β = −0.19), coping (β = −0.21), and conformity motives (β = −0.21), whereas greater competence predicted lower coping (β = −0.21), conformity (β = −0.13), and social motives (β = −0.17). Relatedness predicted higher enhancement motives (β = 0.12). Direct effects indicated that relatedness (β = −0.12) and ethnic identity centrality (β = −0.13) were associated with lower HED. Social motives predicted greater HED (β = 0.22), whereas coping motives predicted greater alcohol-related consequences (β = 0.28). Conclusion Integrating psychological need satisfaction and cultural identity within a motivational model of drinking may enhance understanding of HED among college students of Mexican descent.