The Role of Social Media Content on Solitary Drinking Among Korean Adults

This study aims to provide explanations for how exposure to social media content on solitary drinking influences the frequency and quantity of solitary drinking, and posting about solitary drinking on social networking sites (SNS). An online survey was conducted with 506 Korean adults who had consumed alcohol at least once while alone in the previous year. The study showed the following results: First, exposure to social media content related to solitary drinking was positively associated with both descriptive norms and negative alcohol expectancies, both of which increased solitary drinking and posting on SNS. Second, although social media content influenced injunctive norm perceptions, injunctive norms did not influence solitary drinking or posting on SNS. Findings suggest that correcting descriptive norms on solitary drinking may be an appropriate intervention for solitary alcohol users in Korea.

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