In an effort to reduce problematic drinking among college students, a recent study applied multiple risk factors to determine the extent that such measures distinguished college nondrinkers, moderate drinkers, or binge drinkers. Study participants included male (n=155) and female (n=351) college students. At baseline, participants completed an online survey that measured personality traits, alcohol attitudes, drinking motives, and social norms. One month later, participants reported the number of drinks typically consumed per occasion during the past month, which determined drinking type. Discriminant function analyses indicated that risk factors such as alcohol attitudes, social drinking motives, and close friend norms contributed to status as nondrinker, moderate drinker, or binge drinker. Additional statistical analyses revealed mean differences in risk factors across drinker types, with stronger effects observed in alcohol attitudes, social motives, enhancement motives, and close friend norms.
Take Away: This study concluded that risk factors such as alcohol attitudes, drinking motives, and social norms tended to be more important than personality traits in distinguishing college drinker types. As such, campus professionals that target problematic drinking may consider addressing these identified risk factors in their prevention efforts—the authors suggest specific ideas in the Discussion section.