NCJ Number
225263
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: November/December 2008 Pages: 554-562
Date Published
November 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined binge drinking, drinking-driving, and other negative behaviors among college students.
Abstract
The first finding demonstrates that those possessing low self-control would be more likely to engage in criminal activity as well as other deviant behaviors analogous to crime. Second, social bonds, such as commitment and involvement, promoted socialization and conformity; the most consistent predictor among measures of involvement in conventional activities was attending events or meeting sponsored by the university or campus organizations. Third, an unstructured environment could significantly increase the occurrence of deviance; spending more time in informal socializing with peers, particularly attending parties where no authority figure was present clearly contributed to high levels of involvement in all three areas examined. Fourth, the effects of demographic characteristics should be controlled in predicting college students’ alcohol-related problems; two variables, gender and location of residence, stood out. Consistent with prior research that noted the importance of residence in deciding whether or not to use a vehicle as a means of transportation after drinking, the study found that on-campus housing significantly reduced the occurrence of driving after drinking, as well as alcohol-related negative behaviors. Data were collected from 558 undergraduates from 10 undergraduate college classes in a mid-Atlantic, public university during the spring 2006 semester. Tables, notes, and references