Relationships Between College Settings and Student Alcohol Use Before, During and After Events: A Multi-Level Study

• NCJ Number: 220805
• Journal: Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Dated: November 2007 Pages: 635-644
• Author(s): Mallie J. Paschall; Robert F. Saltz
• Date Published: November 2007
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01 AA12516
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

This study examined how alcohol risk is distributed based on college students’ drinking before, during, and after they enter into certain settings.

Abstract

Finding of this study indicate differences in the extent to which college settings are associated with student drinking levels before, during, and after related events, and which might have implications for intervention strategies targeting different types of settings. This study determined that different drinking venues or settings had unique influences on the likelihood and amount of alcohol consumed, not only at the venue itself but in the period before and after the event. Better understanding of the influences of drinking settings might assist to develop and implement strategies of direct interventions that could alter drinking behavior at these settings while reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm. The highest drinking levels were observed during all settings/events except campus events; the highest numbers of drinks were consumed at off-campus parties, followed by residence hall and fraternity/sorority parties. The number of drinks consumed before a fraternity/sorority party was higher than other settings/events. Age group and gender differences in relationships between type of settings/events and before, during, and after drinking levels were also observed. For example, going to a bar was positively associated with “during” drinks among students of legal drinking age while no relationship was observed for underage students. Students attending 14 California public universities (N=10,152) completed a Web-based or mailed survey in the fall 2003 semester which included questions about how many drinks they consumed before, during, and after the last time they went to six settings/events: fraternity or sorority parties, residence hall parties, campus events, off-campus parties, bars/restaurants, and outdoor settings. Multi-level analyses were conducted in hierarchical linear modeling to examine relationships between type of setting and level of alcohol use before, during, and after going to the settings, as well as possible age and gender differences in these relationships. Tables, references