A systematic review of the Alcohol norms literature: A focus on context

Abstract

Objective: To proffer a theoretically driven assess ment of the validity of research which examines alcohol-related normative beliefs. Methods: A systematic review of 68 articles match ing the inclusion criteria, published between 1970 and 2013. Results: Potential causes of deviations in research findings are identified and compelling gaps in our knowledge with regards to the influence of partici pant gender, age and contextual factors are high lighted and discussed in relation to the broader literature. Conclusions: It is proposed that a standardization of research approaches and alcohol intake measures are required in order to increase the validity of present research and enable useful comparisons between studies. Further attention to key, poten tially mediatory variables is also highlighted as important for increasing research validity with a view to facilitating the improvement of interventions. o .2 O c .2 .2 3 • i PP S

The influence of groups and alcohol consumption on individual risk-taking

“…For example, Monk and Heim (2013) found participants to self-report higher levels of typical alcohol consumption when tested in a bar, opposed to lecture context. Furthermore, perceived norms are suggested to be context dependent, whereby alcohol-related environments will trigger normative beliefs associated with alcohol (Lo Monaco et al, 2011;Monk & Heim, 2014b). Along this line of thought, current findings suggest that injunctive norms regarding alcohol and engagement in risky behaviour may be more dominant in the alcohol-related environment, which may influence response of risk-taking questions on the RT-18.…”

“…To this end, laboratory and field work find opposing effects of alcohol consumption on risky behaviour. These inconsistencies may be a consequence of the environment and contextual difference between these studies, which have previously been suggested to impact alcohol-related cognitions (Monk & Heim, 2013a, 2013b, 2014b). …”

“…With reference to social contexts, due to the saliency of one's social identity, individuals may be more likely to match their behaviour and attitudes to their peers (Borsari & Carey, 2001;Monk & Heim, 2014b;Tajfel & Turner, 1986), requiring an element of self-control. Thus, disinhibition and ego depletion together, may aid in explaining both alcohol and contextual influences on risky, disinhibited behaviours.…”

“…A systematic review of the alcohol norms literature (Monk & Heim, 2014b) highlighted the importance in considering contextual influences when investigating the impact of alcohol-related norms on individual behaviour. Specifically, it is postulated that being in certain contexts (e.g., being in a bar and/or with friends) may activate perceived norms that are specific to that environment (e.g.…”

Context matters: Student-perceived binge drinking norms at faculty-level relate to binge drinking behavior in higher education

“…However, students often overestimate the actual drinking norms in these networks [9][10][11], which often encourage them to drink more alcohol than they would otherwise do [9,10]. Male students usually have higher misperceptions of existing drinking norms than female students [12] and these misperceptions generally refer to same-sex students [13,14].…”