Actitudes hacia el consumo, búsqueda de sensaciones y consumo de alcohol. Modelo de mediación parcial en adolescentes ecuatorianos

Objective: To determine the mediation effect of the search for sensations in the relationship between attitudes to consumption and alcohol consumption in a sample of adolescents from Ecuador. Method: Descriptive, predictive and mediating study with the use of the Scale of Attitudes to Consumption, the Brief Sensation Search Questionnaire and the Identification Test for Disorders Related to Alcohol Consumption. Participants: 913 adolescents (55.2% men) between 11 and 19 years old (X = 14.7 years; s = 1.7), students from 6 educational centres (61.3% public) from the cities of Ambato, Latacunga and Pelileo from Ecuador. Results: The Search for sensations (ab = .025; p <.001; 95% CI [.013 - .040]) presents a partial mediation effect (c = .251; p <.001 [c ‘= .226; p <.001]) in the relationship between Attitudes to consumption and Alcohol Consumption. Conclusions: The intervening variables Search for sensations are relevant when considering the relationship between Attitudes to consumption and Alcohol consumption.