A recent study investigated changes in college student drinking behaviors throughout years of college. Through observation of alcohol related expectancies, norms, and attitudes, as well as gender, this study aimed to understand changes in drinking patterns to help identify any particular times of risk.
First year students from three universities across the United States completed assessments on alcohol attitudes and behaviors each fall during their four years of college. Through analysis of their alcohol use behaviors, they were categorized as non-drinkers, weekend light drinkers, weekend heavy drinkers, occasional heavy episodic drinkers, and heavy drinkers.
The results showed that non-drinkers were likely to continue to abstain from alcohol, and if they were to begin using alcohol they would likely be weekend light drinkers. Occasional heavy episodic drinkers were the most likely to change to any of the other drinking classes throughout their four years. Weekend heavy drinkers and heavy drinkers had the highest stability over the four years and were the least likely to change their drinking behaviors. These results suggest that early intervention is important on college campuses in regards to alcohol use. First year students who drink heavily are the least likely to change their behaviors, and efforts in education and prevention can target these students to attempt to initiate a change.
Take Away: College students who are non-drinkers or light drinkers are likely to continue to either abstain from alcohol completely or drink lightly on the weekends. However, those who drink heavily as young college students are likely to continue to engage in heavy drinking throughout their four years of college.