Protective Strategies and Alcohol Use Among College Students: Ethnic and Gender Differences

Abstract

This study investigated differences in alcohol consumption and the use of protective strategies (i.e., eating and designated drivers) between European American, African American, and Hispanic American college students. Gender differences were also examined. The study sample was drawn from a large southeastern university (n = 567). Data analysis employed regression, factor analysis, and analysis of variance. Results indicate that European Americans students reported a higher incidence of "drunk" episodes per week than other racial/ethnic groups and greater use of specific pre-drinking behaviors such as protective strategies than their non-European American peers. No statistically significant differences were found between the drinking patterns between genders.

Predictors of Self-Rated Health and Lifestyle Behaviours in Swedish University Students

“…Previous research findings suggest that male students were involved in substance abuse (e.g. alcohol) considerably more than female students ( Lawrence, Abel, & Hall, 2010 ) which could potentially explain gender difference in quality of sleep ( Buboltz Jr et al, 2009 ) as shown in the study.…”

The Role of Drinking Beliefs to Explain Ethnic Variation in Drinking Practices Among U.S. College Students

“…They found that previous drinkers and students at risk of binge drinking were less likely to binge drink at colleges with large minority populations, raising questions about the culture of drinking among ethnic minority students. In particular, it has been reported that African American students drink alcohol much less frequently and heavily than their white student counterparts (Lawrence, Abel, & Hall, 2010; Madison-Colmore, Ford, Cooke, & Ellis, 2003; O’Malley & Johnston, 2002; Paschall, Bersamin, & Flewelling, 2005). …”

Drinking Motives and Alcohol Use Behaviors among African American College Students: The Mediating Role of Protective Behavioral Strategies

“…This is slightly different than general trends in drinking motives research that support direct relationships between social, conformity, and coping motives and alcohol use behaviors and outcomes (Kuntsche et al, 2005). Given that African American students may perceive that alcohol consumption in college is predominately a White activity (Lawrence et al, 2010) and have fewer friends who engage in HED, they may be less focused on drinking to increase their sociability or to conform to the White majority. Similarly, African American students may be less likely to drink in situations that are generally considered to be ''social'' and that may be perceived as being occupied by mainly White students such as parties and bars (Peralta, 2005).…”