Citation

Maney DW, Mortensen S, Powell MP, Lozinska-Lee M, Kennedy S, Moore B. Am. J. Health Educ. 2002; 33(4): 225-233.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An exploration of the linear relationships among alcohol use, participation in late-night alcohol-free entertainment options, perceived drinking norms, social identity, perception of university policy, and demographics was conducted. The sample was 1,074 college students enrolled in introductory psychology courses. Alcohol use was measured using self-report behavioral inventories. A total of 382 students participated in the study, 42% of whom attended one or more LateNight programs, and 52.7% of whom had binged within the past 2 weeks. Regression analysis results showed those who felt LateNight was a good example of having fun without using alcohol were 27% less likely to binge than those who did not believe this (p less than 0.05). Likewise, those with high perceptions of peer drinking norms were 30% more likely to party heavily than those with low perceptions (p less than 0.001). LateNight participants were significantly (p less than 0.001) less likely to drink heavily, were 14% less likely to binge (p less than 0.001), and were 20% less likely to party heavily (p less than 0.001) than nonparticipants. Respondents identifying socially with LateNight participants were 14% less likely to binge (p less than 0.05). Those more aware of university-based efforts involving policy enforcement and prevention programming were 19% more likely to binge (p less than 0.01), and 23% more likely to party heavily (p less than 0.01) than those less aware of university efforts. Implications for program planning and evaluation are presented.