Abstract
Introduction: Despite legal prohibitions and prevailing cultural norms, research evidence shows an increasing trend in alcohol consumption among Iranian youth and university students. The present study aimed to assess preventive behaviors related to alcohol consumption among students of the School of Paramedical Sciences and Public Health at a university in Mashhad, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 on 422 students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-developed instrument based on TPB constructs. with previously established validity and reliability. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 27.
Results: The mean preventive behavior score related to alcohol consumption was 17.12±3.54 out of 20. Significant associations were observed between preventive behaviors and demographic variables such as gender, field of study, marital status, place of residence, mother’s education level, and mother’s occupation (P<0.05). All TPB constructs including attitude (r=0.560), subjective norms (r=0.514), perceived behavioral control (r=0.360), and behavioral intention (r=0.610) showed significant positive correlations with preventive behaviors (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The Theory of Planned Behavior plays a significant role in predicting and explaining preventive behaviors related to alcohol consumption among university students. The strong associations between TPB constructs and preventive behaviors underscore the importance of addressing attitudes, social norms, perceived behavioral control, and particularly behavioral intention when designing educational and preventive interventions.