This study was conducted to examine and compare the influences of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) on intentions toward controlled drinking, and intentions and PBC on controlled drinking behavior, between Korean-American and Korean male workers across different drinking cultures.
Health behaviors of first-generation immigrants is generally different from that of the natives. The unique Korean drinking culture and lenient relevant laws have often been pointed out as the major reasons for excessive alcohol consumption among Korean men, which has been reported to be high. Unlike Korea’s tolerant drinking culture and laws, the American drinking culture and laws are more rigid and stern. This study may help understand the differences or similarities in controlled drinking behaviors of Korean-American and Korean male workers based on Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior, and help develop strategies and intervention programs to aid controlled drinking among these populations.
Methods:
A total of 282 male participants (141 Korean-Americans and 141 Koreans) who reported social drinking were participated. Korean-American male workers selected for this study were first-generation immigrants; those born to Korean parents in Korea, have lived in Korea at least until the age of 21 years, and have been staying in the US for over a year. Interested male workers were requested to complete the consent forms and questionnaires, and return them in the self-addressed stamped envelopes provided to them. Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior was used as a theoretical model to examine predictors of controlled drinking behavior. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the theoretical model for each group, followed by multiple group analyses.
Results:
The majority of the participants were college-educated (over 90%) and white-collar (over 72%) workers. Controlled drinking behavior was significantly correlated with PBC and intentions in Korean-Americans, whereas with PBC, intentions, and attitudes in Koreans according to tests of the measurement model (with no equality constraints). Tests of the theoretical model for each group revealed that subjective norms and PBC predicted intentions, but only PBC was a significant predictor of controlled drinking behavior. Multiple group analyses of the theoretical model showed no difference between the two groups in the predictors of controlled drinking behaviors.
Conclusion:
Both worker groups were influenced by only PBC on controlled drinking behavior. This result could be interpreted as intention-behavior discrepancies, in which male workers who had intentions toward controlled drinking were found to not practice controlled drinking behavior. Korean-American and Korean male workers, how to control the pressure for alcohol consumption from their co-workers, seniors, and friends, and manage drinking environment, are more important than intentions toward controlled drinking behavior for predicting their controlled drinking behavior.
Controlled drinking intervention programs for Korean-American and Korean male workers should incorporate strategies to increase PBC, such as refusal training, in order to improve controlled drinking behavior. TPB has been proven as a useful theory to explain controlled drinking behavior of Korean-American and Korean male workers.