Changes in Drinking Patterns Across the Transition to College Among First-Year College Males

• NCJ Number: 226052
• Journal: Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2009 Pages: 1-15
• Author(s): Joseph LaBrie; Toby Lamb; Eric Pedersen
• Date Published: January 2009
• Length: 15 pages
• Grant Number(s): Q184H030069; U18AA015451-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; US Dept of Education
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined drinking over the transition period from pre-college to college for first-year males.

Abstract

Findings reveal that differential changes in drinking behavior occur among incoming college males, but underscore the complexity of the transition to college and its impact on drinking patterns that potentially last throughout college; drinking prior to college and continuing at pre-college levels may be just as risky as increasing drinking behavior during college. Results show that while there appears to be a general trend toward increased drinking upon entering college, several factors influence these results. First, lighter drinkers at pre-college and those who did not drink prior to college appear to increase drinking across the transition, to levels of consumption lower than heavy drinkers at pre-college. Pre-college drinkers did not significantly increase drinking days or drinks per month, and decreased average drinks consumed per occasion. Although not increasing drinking, pre-college drinkers may be prone to experience alcohol-related problems during the first month of college due to heavy consumption levels continued from pre-college to the first month of college. Finally, Caucasian participants increased drinking across the transition, while non-Caucasian participants did not. Data were collected from 239 first-year male students at a private university. Tables and references