Perceptions About Residence Hall Wingmates and Alcohol-Related Secondhand Effects Among College Freshmen

Abstract

Objective This study examined secondhand effects college students experienced from others’ alcohol use and their relationship with student characteristics and alcohol-related perceptions about wing-mates. Participants Incoming freshmen (n=509) residing in predominantly freshmen dormitories. Methods A web-based survey was administered two months into the 2006 fall academic semester. Linear Mixed Modeling was utilized to examine the independent relationships of secondhand effects with student characteristics and perceptions. Results Most (80%) students experienced at least one secondhand effect. Perceiving wing-mate acceptance and expectation of alcohol use, and inability to protect against wing-mate secondhand effects as well as being female and a drinker were related to experiencing secondhand effects. Conclusions Incoming college freshmen frequently experienced secondhand effects. Involving dormitory wings in norms-based interventions aimed at reducing secondhand effects warrant evaluation. Further research is also warranted on skill-building among college students to resist and intervene into others’ drinking and on Resident Advisor negotiation of their roles as both engenderers of trust/cooperation and enforcers of alcohol rules.

Dimensionality and Psychometric Analysis of an Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale

“…The sampling and recruitment methods utilized in the larger study have been described in detail elsewhere (Boekeloo, Bush, & Novik, 2009; Boekeloo & Griffin, 2009; Boekeloo, Novik, Bush, & O’Grady, 2009; Howard, Griffin, & Boekeloo, 2008). Because the larger trial was focused on first-year freshmen, those students residing in predominantly freshman residence halls were recruited.…”

Changing the Culture of Alcohol Abuse on Campus: Lessons Learned From Secondhand Smoke

“…Because of the growing college student population, by 2001 the latter figure had increased to 97,000 students who had experienced sexual assault or date rape at the hands of a drinking student. 4 Boekeloo and colleagues 9 reported similar findings regarding secondhand effects of alcohol on college campuses, adding that approximately 15% of college freshman were confronted with vomitus in a hallway or bathroom. In reality, then, the secondhand effects of alcohol are at least as injurious to persons and disruptive of the overall environment than those of tobacco.…”

Comparison of Student Self-Reported and Administrative Data Regarding Intercession Into Alcohol Misuse Among College Freshmen Dormitory Residents

“…The study was approved by the university’s Institutional Review Board. The methods by which the sample was selected and the data were gathered have been explained in detail elsewhere (Boekeloo, Bush, et al, 2009; Boekeloo & Griffin, 2009; Boekeloo, Novik, et al, 2009). …”

“…These negative alcohol-related consequences include: passing out, missing class, being disruptive or confrontational, being tardy for class or work, getting injured, and damaging property (Amaro, et al, 2009; Park, 2004; Perkins, 2002; Reis, Trockel, & Wall, 2003; Wechsler, Lee, Nelson, & Kuo, 2002). Alcohol misuse not only affects the drinker him/herself but may cause secondhand consequences for others (ie: interruptions to sleep and study, having to care for an inebriated person, being inconvenienced by noise and vomit, and being assaulted) (Boekeloo, Bush, & Novik, 2009). College student alcohol misuse and secondhand consequences affect quality-of-life in residence halls and are thus a concern for residence hall authorities.…”

“…DRL data are free of the selection and social desirability biases associated with student self-report but they may have other biases. RAs may find their roles as policy enforcers and trusted mentors as sometimes conflicting and difficult to navigate; role ambiguity may influence, consciously or unconsciously, their documentation (Boekeloo, Bush, & Novik, 2009). The reliability of RA documentation of student violation of alcohol-policy is, unfortunately, not known.…”