Related Experiment Videos
Using focus group interviews to identify salient issues concerning college students' alcohol abuse
E M Emery1, G P Ritter-Randolph, A L Strozier
1Student Health Service, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Journal of American College Health : J of ACH
|March 1, 1993
Summary
College students face societal pressures and intrapersonal skill deficits contributing to alcohol abuse. Future prevention programs should prioritize enhancing these skills to reduce college drinking.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Alcohol abuse remains a significant issue among college students.
- Current prevention strategies have demonstrated limited effectiveness.
- Understanding student perspectives is crucial for developing successful interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the reasons behind the limited success of current alcohol abuse prevention efforts.
- To identify key areas for future intervention strategies targeting college student drinking patterns.
Main Methods:
- Conducted focus group interviews with college students.
- Discussed five core themes: reasons for drinking/not drinking, overconsumption circumstances, prevention topics/methods, and gender differences.
- Assessed the focus group method's utility in exploring sensitive issues.
Main Results:
- Students highlighted susceptibility to societal pressures as a major driver of alcohol consumption.
- Limitations in intrapersonal skills, particularly concerning sexuality, were identified as impacting drinking behaviors.
- Focus groups effectively revealed sensitive aspects of alcohol use and their interrelationships.
Conclusions:
- Improving students' intrapersonal skills should be a central component of alcohol abuse prevention programs.
- Future interventions need to address societal influences and enhance individual coping mechanisms.
- Focus group methodology is a valuable tool for in-depth understanding of complex student behaviors.