Sensation Seeking and Adolescent Drinking: Do Protective Behavioral Strategies Lower Risk?

Using a cross-sectional design, we examined protective behavioral strategies (PBS) as a moderator of the relationship between sensation seeking and hazardous drinking and alcohol-related consequences among high school seniors ( N = 212). Hierarchical regression analyses indicated sensation seeking was a significant predictor of binge drinking (β = .65, p < .001), pre-partying (β = .71, p < .001), gaming (β = .75, p < .001), and alcohol-related consequences (β = .69, p < .001). Further, PBS moderated these relationships such that among high sensation seeking adolescents, PBS use was associated with better outcomes, including lower levels of binge drinking (β = -.37, p < .01), pre-partying (β = -.44, p < .01), gaming (β = -.31, p < .05), and alcohol-related consequences (β = -.53, p < .001). We discuss counseling implications, including assessment and harm reduction strategies focusing on PBS to reduce hazardous drinking among high sensation seeking adolescents.