NCJ Number
220160
Journal
Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 42 Issue: 9 Dated: 2007 Pages: 1367-1377
Date Published
2007
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study examined alcohol use among college students, focusing on variation in binge drinking based on involvement in athletics.
Abstract
The findings indicate that college students involved in athletics are at greater risk for binge drinking than non-athletes are. Athletes are shown to be more likely to report binge drinking in the past 2 weeks. It is not until the social norms predictors are included in the complete regression model that the relationship between athletic status and binge drinking becomes significant. The social norms predictors offer a potential explanation for the higher rates of binge drinking among college athletes. The findings are consistent with findings from previous literature and highlight the importance of more closely examining the peer networks of athletes. A risky behavior that large numbers of college students partake is the “heavy use” of alcohol. Given the significant numbers of college students and their tendency to engage in risky behavior, continued research on this population is important. Research findings show that college students involved in athletics have higher rates of binge drinking than students not involved in athletics. However, current research has not offered an explanation for this finding. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine alcohol use among college students, focusing on explaining the variation in binge drinking based on involvement in athletics. The study used data from the 1999 Harvard School of Public Health College Alcohol Study or CAS containing information on over 14,000 students at 119 4-year colleges and universities in 39 States. Tables, references