School spillover occurs when the education-related obligations and pressures faced by college students extend into other aspects of their lives through shared behaviors or stress. The researchers surveyed 250 students between the ages of 18 and 29 at the University of North Dakota, a mid-sized Midwestern university, to better understand how school spillover effects mental and behavioral outcomes, including drinking and binge drinking. There were slightly more women (62 percent) than men in the study. Most of the participants were full-time students. The average age was almost 21. Contrary to past studies, the degree of pressure from college studies was not associated with alcohol consumption or with binge drinking. The researchers did, however, find a significant association with all the mental health outcomes they considered – nervousness, restlessness, worthlessness, depression and hopelessness. They also found that more-stressed students slept less and had more sex partners.

Take away: In contrast to previous studies, the researchers did not find an association between higher levels of school-related stress and alcohol consumption or binge drinking. Prevention specialists might consider this finding as they consider how best to focus prevention efforts.

 

Pedersen D, Swenberger J, Moes K (2016) School Spillover and College Student Health, Sociological Inquiry, 1-23