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Moderation in excess: binge drinking and social interaction among college students
J B Nezlek1, C J Pilkington, K G Bilbro
1Department of Psychology, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg 23187.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|May 1, 1994
Summary
Binge drinking frequency, not total alcohol intake, impacts college students' social interactions. Moderate binge drinking may enhance social integration, while abstaining or excessive bingeing may reduce intimacy and disclosure.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous research on alcohol consumption and sociability yielded inconsistent results.
- Sociability has often been studied as a personality trait, neglecting its definition as social activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social activity and alcohol consumption patterns in college students.
- To differentiate the effects of total alcohol consumption versus binge drinking frequency on social interactions.
Main Methods:
- A social interaction diary was used to measure social activity in 90 college students.
- Participants reported their total alcohol consumption and frequency of binge drinking.
Main Results:
- Total alcohol consumption did not reliably correlate with social life quality or quantity.
- Binge drinking frequency showed associations with social interaction aspects.
- Students with no binge drinking reported less intimacy and disclosure than those with some episodes.
- Men with 3+ binge episodes/week experienced less intimacy compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- Binge drinking frequency, particularly extremes, influences social interaction quality in college students.
- Moderate binge drinking might be linked to better social integration, potentially due to social norms.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between social dynamics and alcohol use patterns in young adults.