Alcohol and tobacco consumption, self-efficacy and indicators of academic risk in Mexican university students

Abstract

Introduction: Perceived self-efficacy has a significant impact on life, the fact of knowing oneself capable or having elements to deal with a situation provides the confidence to make better decisions. In this sense, when the self-efficacy is low, the probability of adopting risk behaviors, such as the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, increases. Objective: This research aims to analyze the indicators of academic risk in people with high and low consumption of alcohol and tobacco, as well as the role of the different types of self-efficacy in the explanation of alcohol and tobacco consumption in Mexican university students, according to sex. Methodology: Quantitative research, explanatory type. It was a convenience non-probabilistic sample; a total of 2286 students from different universities in Mexico participated in this study. A questionnaire of academic risk factors and a self-efficacy scale was applied. The alcohol and tobacco consumption dimension of a Problem Behavior Scale was utilized. Results: self-efficacy to face problems, self-efficacy to resist pressure, and academic self-efficacy explain 27.2% of the variance of alcohol and tobacco consumption in men, and 22% in women. A differentiated profile of academic risk indicators was found between students with high and low consumption. Conclusions: it is recommended to include self-efficacy as a key element in substance use prevention programs.