HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wechsler, H Articles by Castillo, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wechsler, H Articles by Castillo, S

Correlates of college student binge drinking.

H Wechsler, G W Dowdall, A Davenport and S Castillo

Department of Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

OBJECTIVES. This study examines the individual correlates of college student binge drinking. METHODS. Questionnaires were completed by a representative national sample (n = 17,592) of students on 140 campuses in 1993. Binge drinking was defined as five or more drinks per episode for men and as four or more drinks per episode for women. RESULTS. Overall, 44% of the students (50% of the men and 39% of the women) binged. While demographic factors such as sex and race were significantly related to binge drinking, prior binging in high school was crucial, suggesting that for many students, binge drinking begins before college. The strongest predictors of college binge drinking were residence in a fraternity or sorority, adoption of a party-centered life-style, and engagement in other risky behaviors. CONCLUSIONS. Interventions must be targeted at high school binge drinking as well as at several characteristics of college life--most notably fraternity residence. Legal drinking age fails to predict binge drinking, raising questions about the effectiveness of the legal minimum drinking age of 21 in college alcohol policies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. O. Simao, F. Kerr-Correa, S. I. Smaira, L. A. Trinca, T. M.F. Floripes, I. Dalben, R. A. Martins, J. B. Oliveira, M. B. Cavariani, and A. M. Tucci Prevention of "Risky" Drinking among Students at a Brazilian University Alcohol Alcohol., July 1, 2008; 43(4): 470 - 476. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Jamison and L. B. Myers Peer-Group and Price Influence Students Drinking along with Planned Behaviour Alcohol Alcohol., July 1, 2008; 43(4): 492 - 497. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Blumberg and J. V. Luke Coverage Bias in Traditional Telephone Surveys of Low-Income and Young Adults Public Opin Q, November 13, 2007; (2007) nfm047v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Yang, J. W. Lynch, T. E. Raghunathan, J. Kauhanen, J. T. Salonen, and G. A. Kaplan Socioeconomic and Psychosocial Exposures across the Life Course and Binge Drinking in Adulthood: Population-based Study Am. J. Epidemiol., January 15, 2007; 165(2): 184 - 193. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. H. Aseltine Jr. and S. Gore Work, Postsecondary Education, and Psychosocial Functioning Following the Transition From High School Journal of Adolescent Research, November 1, 2005; 20(6): 615 - 639. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. N. Rimal and K. Real How Behaviors are Influenced by Perceived Norms: A Test of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior Communication Research, June 1, 2005; 32(3): 389 - 414. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Guilamo-Ramos, J. Jaccard, R. Turrisi, and M. Johansson Parental and School Correlates of Binge Drinking Among Middle School Students Am J Public Health, May 1, 2005; 95(5): 894 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. O'BRIEN, J. M. BLACKIE, and J. A. HUNTER HAZARDOUS DRINKING IN ELITE NEW ZEALAND SPORTSPEOPLE Alcohol Alcohol., May 1, 2005; 40(3): 239 - 241. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. R Weitzman and Y.-Y. Chen Risk modifying effect of social capital on measures of heavy alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, harms, and secondhand effects: national survey findings J. Epidemiol. Community Health, April 1, 2005; 59(4): 303 - 309. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. F. Nelson, T. S. Naimi, R. D. Brewer, and H. Wechsler The State Sets the Rate: The Relationship Among State-Specific College Binge Drinking, State Binge Drinking Rates, and Selected State Alcohol Control Policies Am J Public Health, March 1, 2005; 95(3): 441 - 446. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. McCarty, B. E. Ebel, M. M. Garrison, D. L. DiGiuseppe, D. A. Christakis, and F. P. Rivara Continuity of Binge and Harmful Drinking From Late Adolescence to Early Adulthood Pediatrics, September 1, 2004; 114(3): 714 - 719. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Wechsler and M. Kuo Watering Down the Drinks: The Moderating Effect of College Demographics on Alcohol Use of High-Risk Groups Am J Public Health, November 1, 2003; 93(11): 1929 - 1933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. I. Herman, J. W. Philbeck, N. L. Vasilopoulos, and P. B. Depetrillo SEROTONIN TRANSPORTER PROMOTER POLYMORPHISM AND DIFFERENCES IN ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOUR IN A COLLEGE STUDENT POPULATION Alcohol Alcohol., September 1, 2003; 38(5): 446 - 449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Bradley, K. R. Bush, A. J. Epler, D. J. Dobie, T. M. Davis, J. L. Sporleder, C. Maynard, M. L. Burman, and D. R. Kivlahan Two Brief Alcohol-Screening Tests From the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): Validation in a Female Veterans Affairs Patient Population Arch Intern Med, April 14, 2003; 163(7): 821 - 829. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Kypri, J. D. Langley, R. McGee, J. B. Saunders, and S. Williams HIGH PREVALENCE, PERSISTENT HAZARDOUS DRINKING AMONG NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY STUDENTS Alcohol Alcohol., September 1, 2002; 37(5): 457 - 464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Bergman and H. Kallmen ALCOHOL USE AMONG SWEDES AND A PSYCHOMETRIC EVALUATION OF THE ALCOHOL USE DISORDERS IDENTIFICATION TEST Alcohol Alcohol., May 1, 2002; 37(3): 245 - 251. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Gill REPORTED LEVELS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND BINGE DRINKING WITHIN THE UK UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT POPULATION OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS Alcohol Alcohol., March 1, 2002; 37(2): 109 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Baer, D. R. Kivlahan, A. W. Blume, P. McKnight, and G. A. Marlatt Brief Intervention for Heavy-Drinking College Students: 4-Year Follow-Up and Natural History Am J Public Health, August 1, 2001; 91(8): 1310 - 1316. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. A. Rigotti, J. E. Lee, and H. Wechsler US College Students' Use of Tobacco Products: Results of a National Survey JAMA, August 9, 2000; 284(6): 699 - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]