Religiousness, Spirituality, and Social Support: How Are They Related to Underage Drinking Among College Students?

• NCJ Number: 222133
• Journal: Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 15-39
• Author(s): Tamara L. Brown; John M. Salsman; Emily H. Brechting; Charles R. Carlson
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 25 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the associations of multiple factors of religiousness and spirituality with alcohol use among college students and whether these factors interacted with social support in predicting alcohol use.

Abstract

The study found that "extrinsic" religiousness (participating in religious rituals and religious social gatherings because it makes one feel good) was not associated with any of the alcohol-use variables. "Intrinsic" religiousness (inner commitment to the moral and behavioral tenets of one's religion), on the other hand, was associated with a reduced frequency of alcohol use and average alcohol consumption. Although social support did not interact with religiousness in predicting frequency of alcohol use or average alcohol consumption, there was a significant interaction in predicting problems with alcohol use. Under conditions of low social support, low extrinsic religiousness was associated with more alcohol problems, and high extrinsic religiousness was associated with fewer alcohol problems. "Spirituality" (sense of community with others, prayer fulfillment, and feeling a sense of purpose for one's life) was not associated with alcohol use in the same way as religiousness. Prayer fulfillment and connectedness with others were not associated with any of the variables of alcohol use or alcohol problems; however, feeling a sense of purpose for one's life was associated with frequency of alcohol use and average alcohol consumption, but only under conditions of high social support. Study participants were 263 (207 females, 55males) undergraduate students at the University of Kentucky. A questionnaire packet measured demographics, religiousness, spirituality, social support, social desirability, and alcohol use. Alcohol-use variables pertained to average alcohol consumption, frequency of alcohol use, and problems associated with alcohol use. 3 tables, 3 figures, and 60 references