Extract
Sexual orientation and alcohol use among college students: the influence of drinking motives and social norms.
Abstract
Evidence indicates GLB individuals may be at greater risk for high rates of alcohol consumption; however, few studies have identified specific factors explaining why differences exist. Using data from the 2001 College Alcohol Study, we examined the ability of drinking motives and social norms to explain the relationship between sexual orientation and binge drinking among over 7,000 students. Findings suggest drinking motives and norms are important for all college students and may be more relevant than demographic characteristics such as sexual orientation. Prevention efforts focused on motivations for drinking, therefore, may be effective for all students regardless of sexual orientation. Key Words: Alcohol Use, Sexual Orientation, Drinking Motives, Social Norms INTRODUCTION College students are one of the groups at greatest risk for substance use, particularly alcohol misuse. In fact, college students have higher rates of alcohol use and binge drinking than their same-age peers who do not attend college (Gfroerer et al., 1997; Johnston et al., 2006; Paschall & Flewelling, 2002; Slutske et al., 2004). Much of the literature on substance use among college students focuses primarily on binge drinking and as a result many social, psychological and demographic risk factors for this behavior have been identified and are fairly well understood. What is not as clear, however, is whether the conclusions drawn from studies of college students, as a whole, can also be applied to gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) students. This is particularly troubling as evidence from several studies indicates that GLB individuals may be at greater risk for high rates of alcohol consumption (Mosbacher, 1993; Diamant et al., 2000; Russell et al., 2002). Moreover, there is growing consensus that rates of binge drinking are higher among lesbians than heterosexual women (Burgard et al., 2005; Hughes & Eliason, 2002) and that bisexual women may be at greater risk for binge drinking (Eisenberg & Wechsler, 2003a; Eisenberg & Wechsler, 2003b; Trocki et al., 2005). Among men there is less consen...See the full content of this document
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