Influence of attitudes and alcohol consumption on tobacco use among university students in Ecuador: an explanatory model with SEM

Abstract

Objective: Establish an explanatory model through latent variables analysis of tobacco consumption based on alcohol consumption and alcohol consumption based on attitudes towards consumption in a sample of university students in Ecuador. Method: Descriptive correlational and explanatory design using SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) techniques. Participants: 546 students (69.2% women) aged between 17 and 41 years old (M= 21.3 years old; SD= 2.6), from four universities (45.1% public ones) in two cities of Ecuador. Results: The predominance of alcohol consumption is high; the prevalence of tobacco consumption is low, and attitudes towards alcohol consumption are ambivalent. Alcohol attitudes predict alcohol consumption (R2= .57) and alcohol consumption predicts tobacco consumption (R2= .26). Attitudes and consumption provide an explanatory model for tobacco consumption with ꭓ2= 662.59; p< .001; df= 480; ꭓ2/gl= 1.4; CFI= .95; TLI= .94; SRMR= .049; RMSEA= .026 [.021 - .031]. Conclusions: The study of attitudes and consumption behaviors are important for a better understanding about alcohol and tobacco consumption in university students

Objetivo: Establecer un modelo explicativo a través del análisis de variables latentes del consumo de tabaco basado en el consumo de alcohol y el consumo de alcohol basado en las actitudes hacia el consumo en una muestra de estudiantes universitarios de Ecuador. Método: Diseño descriptivo correlacional y explicativo mediante técnicas SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). Participantes: 546 estudiantes (69,2% mujeres) con edades entre 17 y 41 años (M= 21,3 años; DE= 2,6), de cuatro universidades (45,1% públicas) en dos ciudades del Ecuador. Resultados: El predominio del consumo de alcohol es alto; la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco es baja y las actitudes hacia el consumo de alcohol son ambivalentes. Las actitudes hacia el alcohol predicen el consumo de alcohol (R2 = .57) y el consumo de alcohol predice el consumo de tabaco (R2 = .26). Las actitudes y el consumo brindan un modelo explicativo para el consumo de tabaco con ꭓ2= 662.59; p< 0,001; gl= 480; ꭓ2 /gl= 1,4; CFI= .95; TLI= .94; SRMR= .049; RMSEA= .026 [.021 - .031]. Conclusiones: El estudio de las actitudes y comportamientos de consumo son importantes para una mejor comprensión sobre el consumo de alcohol y tabaco en estudiantes universitarios