Binge drinking and alcohol-related problems among community college students: implications for prevention policy.
Binge drinking and alcohol-related problems among students at traditional 4-year universities have been well documented. However, little is known about the frequency of their such behaviors and its consequences among community college students, who comprise roughly 44% of all undergraduate students in the United States. The present study examined binge drinking and alcohol-related problems in 762 (61% female) ethnically diverse (65% Caucasian, 20% Hispanic, 9% African American) community college students (mean age = 26.23, SD = 7.81). Based on gender-specific criteria, 25% engaged in binge drinking. As compared to nonbingers and current abstainers, bingers had higher rates of drinking-related problems. The implications of these findings for research and for prevention/intervention programs are discussed.
Sheffield
Felicia D
FD
Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida, Tampa 33620-8200, USA.
Darkes
Jack
J
Del Boca
Frances K
FK
Goldman
Mark S
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities