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College student drinking, attitudes toward risks, and drinking consequences
Stephen L Benton1, Sherry A Benton, Ronald G Downey
1Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5312, USA. leroy@ksu.edu
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|June 1, 2006
Summary
College students' risk attitudes significantly predict drinking consequences, even after accounting for gender, alcohol consumption, and protective behaviors. High-risk attitudes amplify the negative impact of heavy drinking.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- College student drinking is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding factors contributing to negative drinking consequences is crucial for intervention.
- Previous research has identified gender, alcohol use, and protective strategies as relevant factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if college students' attitudes toward risks predict drinking consequences.
- To determine if risk attitudes explain variance in drinking consequences beyond established predictors.
- To examine the interaction between risk attitudes and alcohol consumption levels on negative consequences.
Main Methods:
- Two samples of undergraduate students (N=276 and N=216) were recruited.
- Participants completed the Campus Alcohol Survey (CAS) and the Attitudes Toward Risks Scale (ATRS).
- Hierarchical regression analyses were used to assess the predictive value of ATRS scores.
Main Results:
- Attitudes Toward Risks Scale (ATRS) scores positively correlated with alcohol consumption and negative drinking consequences.
- ATRS scores significantly explained additional variance in negative drinking consequences, controlling for gender, alcohol use, and protective strategies.
- A significant interaction indicated that heavy-drinking students with high-risk attitudes experienced the most severe negative consequences.
Conclusions:
- College students' attitudes toward risks are a significant independent predictor of negative drinking consequences.
- Risk attitudes play a crucial role in understanding the relationship between alcohol consumption and harm.
- Findings highlight the importance of addressing risk perceptions in college alcohol prevention programs.
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