The role of sex-specific normative beliefs in undergraduate alcohol use.
OBJECTIVE
To create explanatory models of 3 undergraduate drinking practices based on sex-specific norms.


METHODS
An electronic, student survey at one Mid-western university produced a representative sample of college students.


RESULTS
Multivariate analyses indicated that close-friend norms were the best predictors of drinking frequency, quantity, and drunkenness. With one exception, typical student (or distal) norms had no significant relationship to drinking. Opposite-sex norms had associations with drinking above and beyond that explained by same-sex norms.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings challenge the current application of the popular social norms approach that relies on distal drinking norms to provide normative feedback.
Thombs
Dennis L
DL
Health Promotion Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001, USA. dthombs@kent.edu
Ray-Tomasek
Jennifer
J
Osborn
Cynthia J
CJ
Olds
R Scott
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D001290:Attitude; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities