Previous research has shown that off-campus parties (OCPs) remain a popular setting for college students to socialize and consume alcohol. The first focus of this study was to assess students’ motivations of attending OCPs in general and specifically of attending off campus block parties (OCBP). The second focus of the study was to look at motivations for attending OCBP, factors to improve on campus parties (CPs), and strategies to reduce harms associated with OCBP.
Measures for the study included motivations and risky behaviors. To assess motivation, this they asked participants their motivations for attending OCP such as “cheaper than attending CPs.” Risky behaviors was assessed by asking participants if they did things such as “drank more than they intended” or “stole other people’s belongings.” The study also included focus group discussions that assessed students’ motivations for attending OCBPs, improvements that could be made to CP, and community members were asked about how the university could implement strategies to reduce and minimize the impact the OCBPs have on the community.
The final study included 491 participants with 85.7% reporting celebrating at CPs. 14.3% stated that they celebrated at an OCP. The top three motivations for attending OCPs were to be with home university friends, it is less strict, and it is more fun. Students celebrating at OCPs were more likely to report drinking more than they intended, using illicit substances, engaging in risky sexual behaviors, vandalizing, and breaking by-laws. 8 improvements were suggested to increase student’s likelihood of attending the university sanctioned CP with the most frequent being to improve the music and reduce the cost of drinks. Community members recommended 16 solutions to prevent and minimize harms from OCPB with the most common being to educate students about the by-laws. This study provides potential improvements to help students attend CPs and minimize harms of OCPs.
Take Away: The focus of this study was to assess students’ motivations of attending off-campus parties (OCPs), factors to improve campus parties (CPs), and reducing harms associated with off campus block parties (OCBP). Measures for the study included motivations and risky behaviors. The study also included focus group discussions about how to improve CPs and reduce impact of OCBPs. Reducing costs of drinking and improving overall experience seemed to be the most likely tactic to increase attendance at CPs and minimize harms of OCPs.