Perceived Social Support from Significant Others among Binge Drinking and Polyconsuming Spanish University Students

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Sense of acceptance is a key component of social support and a resilience factor for university adjustment.
• Substance use, including binge drinking and cannabis co-consumption, is prevalent among first-year university students.
• Understanding the relationship between substance use patterns and perceived social support is crucial for student well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between binge drinking and polyconsumption (binge drinking and cannabis) with perceived acceptance in first-year university students.
• To investigate perceived acceptance from family, mother, father, and friends in relation to different substance use patterns.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 484 first-year university students (268 women, 216 men; average age 18.25 years).
• Participants were categorized into control, binge drinking, or polyconsuming groups using the Timeline Followback method for alcohol and cannabis.
• Perceived sense of acceptance was measured using the Perceived Acceptance Scale.

Main Results:

• Polyconsuming students reported significantly lower perceived acceptance compared to binge drinking and control groups (p < 0.05).
• A curvilinear relationship was observed between binge drinking frequency and perceived acceptance from friends.
• Effect sizes (η²) ranged from 0.009 to 0.020, indicating small to moderate effects.

Conclusions:

• Polyconsumption of alcohol and cannabis is linked to diminished perceived acceptance among first-year university students.
• Perceived social support, particularly acceptance, may serve as a vulnerability marker for negative substance use consequences.
• Future interventions should consider social support in addressing substance use disorders and maladjustment in adolescents.