Document Detail


The college and noncollege experience: a review of the factors that influence drinking behavior in young adulthood.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20731981     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To place college drinking within its larger developmental context, we reviewed studies that compare drinking behavior among college students with that of their age-matched non-student peers. Among the recurrent themes identified across these studies, we particularly noted discrepancies in the conceptualization and operationalization of both college status and noncollege status. These discrepancies, and other methodological variations, were then examined because they influence conclusions about drinking outcomes.
METHOD: Eighteen studies directly comparing college students with nonstudents were reviewed.
RESULTS: College students drank more than noncollege peers and, in general, drank more frequently than did noncollege peers, although these differences were likely the result of factors other than college attendance itself. Younger people drank more than older peers in both groups. College students also tended to be more at risk for alcohol-related problems, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, again likely the result of factors other than college attendance per se.
CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the lack of consensus in the conceptualization and operationalization of college and noncollege status across studies, as well as the importance of variables such as living situation, age, full-time and part-time status, and type of college, which may be more directly related to variations in alcohol consumption than is college status itself. Future investigations of college drinking should place this phenomenon within the larger context of developmental processes associated with this time of life.
Authors:
Ashlee C Carter; Karen Obremski Brandon; Mark S Goldman
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs     Volume:  71     ISSN:  1938-4114     ISO Abbreviation:  J Stud Alcohol Drugs     Publication Date:  2010 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-24     Completed Date:  2011-05-31     Revised Date:  2011-09-13    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101295847     Medline TA:  J Stud Alcohol Drugs     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  742-50     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Avenue - PCD4118G, Tampa, Florida 33620-8200, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Age Factors
Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*,  psychology*
Alcoholism / epidemiology,  psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Students / psychology*
Universities*
Young Adult
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01AA008333/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS; R01AA016091/AA/NIAAA NIH HHS
Comments/Corrections

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