College students report high rates of risky drinking with previous research showing alcohol consumption differing based on drinking location. The current study aims to investigate three drinking locations to find differences in alcohol use, perceived descriptive norms, perceived injunctive norms, and personal approval.
Participants for this study included 215 undergraduate students with inclusion criteria being between 18-25 and consuming alcohol in the previous month. Personal alcohol use was measured by asking participants to report drinking at home/dorm, bar, and party in number of standard drinks. Descriptive norms were assessed by asking how much alcohol they think the typical college student of their gender drinks on a single occasion at each location. Injunctive norms were assessed by having participants rate how approving of alcohol use at each location are typical same gender college students. Items included drinking at the specific location, drinking 4 or more (females)/5 or more (males) drinks, and drinking until visibly intoxicated at each location. They also asked participants how approving they were of alcohol use at each location.
Results showed differences were found across locations for each measure except personal approval. It was found that more personal drinking occurred at home/dorms than at bars and there were no differences between use at home/dorms versus at parties. Students perceived that others consumed the most at parties then home/dorm. Researchers found that students perceived others to be less approving of use at bars versus parties. Descriptive norms and personal approval of alcohol use was a predictor of personal alcohol use at both home/dorm and bars. Only descriptive norms of use were a predictor of personal use at parties. These findings indicate that there are different perceived drinking norms at different locations and interventions may benefit from discussing with students their preferred drinking location to be able to provide specific normative feedback.
Take Away: The current study aims to investigate three drinking locations to find differences in alcohol use, perceived descriptive norms, perceived injunctive norms, and personal approval. Participants study included 215 undergraduate students and measures included personal alcohol use, descriptive norm, injunctive norms, and personal approval of alcohol use. More personal drinking occurred at home/dorms than at bars with no differences between use at home/dorms versus parties. Students perceived others consumed the most at parties. Descriptive norms and personal approval of alcohol use was a predictor of personal alcohol use. These findings indicate that there are different perceived drinking norms at locations and interventions may benefit from discussing preferred drinking location and providing specific normative feedback.