title: The problem of binge drinking among Italian university students: a preliminary investigation.
abstract: Although binge drinking and excessive alcohol consumption are relevant public health problems in Italy, no research has been carried out on those topics for years. In the first months of the year 2005, 1000 undergraduates in a number of Italian universities were administered a survey regarding their attitudes in alcohol consumption. Participants were to complete a questionnaire including demographic and alcohol variables, the Sensation-Seeking Scale (SSSV) and the Positive Drinking Expectancy Scale (PDMS). According to previous research, students were categorized in non-drinkers, social, binge, and heavy drinkers. Results showed that the estimated percentage of binge drinking among university students is 32.9%. The survey revealed-by means of univariate and multivariate analysis-that social, binge, and heavy drinkers differ in terms of some drinking variables, in their expectancies about alcohol and in sensation-seeking dimensions. Implications for the prevention of binge drinking in young adults are currently under discussion even if further investigation into the Italian context is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Alessio
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baiocco
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D000431:Ethanol / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010379:Peer Group; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012677:Sensation; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol