The Relationship between Sensation Seeking, Alcohol Expectation, Motivation on Alcohol Consumption among High School Students in Fang District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This study examined the associations among sensation seeking, alcohol-related outcome expectancies, drinking motivations, and alcohol consumption behaviors among secondary school students in Fang District, Chiang Mai Province. The research aimed to describe these psychosocial determinants and to analyze their interrelationships. A correlational design was employed using self-administered questionnaires collected from 267 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation at a significance level of 0.05.

The results indicated that 61.80 percent of students who exhibited drinking behavior had previously consumed alcohol, with female students reporting higher drinking rates than males. Most students began drinking after age 15, mainly due to curiosity about taste. Beer was the most commonly consumed beverage, typically consumed at night. Alcohol was often obtained from parents, relatives, or friends and was usually consumed with family members or peers of the same age. Correlation analysis revealed that thrill seeking was significantly associated with expectations, motivation, and drinking behavior at the p < 0.01 level, and significantly associated with gender at the p < 0.05 level. Students with high levels of thrill seeking—particularly in impulsivity and boredom sensitivity—tended to exhibit stronger promotion and social motivations, along with more positive outcome expectations related to drinking. Conversely, adventure seeking was negatively associated with gender. While coping and conformity motivation were negatively associated with positive expectations and drinking behavior.

These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, multi-level strategies to mitigate early alcohol use among adolescents. Effective interventions should incorporate policy-level measures, community engagement, and family-strengthening approaches. Enhancing overall quality of life and developing contextually relevant prevention frameworks are also essential to addressing the evolving social landscape that shapes youth drinking behaviors.