title: Alcohol involvement and participation in residential learning communities among first-year college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Residential learning communities (RLCs) on U.S. college campuses are assumed to build connections between formal learning opportunities and students' living environment. The objective of this longitudinal study was to examine the association between living in RLCs and alcohol misuse among first-year undergraduate students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Web-based survey was self-administered to a stratified random sample of 923 first-year undergraduate students (52.7% women) attending a large Midwestern research university. The sample included 342 students who lived and participated in RLCs (termed RLC) and 581 students who did not participate in RLCs (termed non-RLC). First-year students were asked about their drinking behaviors before college, during their first semester, and approximately 6 months later during their second semester.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RLC students reported lower rates of drinking than non-RLC students before college. RLC students reported lower rates of drinking and fewer alcohol-related consequences than non-RLC students during the first and second semesters. Maximum drinks in 1 day increased from precollege to first semester, and this increase was larger among non-RLC students than RLC students. The number of drinks per occasion and alcohol-related consequences increased between first semester and second semester for all students regardless of RLC status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower rates of alcohol misuse among RLC students predate their entrance into college, and the increase in drinking from precollege to first semester is lower in magnitude among RLC students. RLCs' influence involves selection and socialization processes. These findings have implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at incoming first-year undergraduate students.
authors: Substance Abuse Research Center, The University of Michigan, 2025 Traverwood Drive, Suite C, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-2194, USA. plius@umich.edu
authors: Sean Esteban
authors: SE
authors: McCabe
authors: Carol J
authors: CJ
authors: Boyd
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Cranford
authors: Janie
authors: J
authors: Slayden
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Lange
authors: Mark B
authors: MB
authors: Reed
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Ketchie
authors: Marcia S
authors: MS
authors: Scott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012931:Social Environment; D012951:Socialization; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
references: J Subst Abuse. 2000;11(1):53-68
references: 10756514
references: Addict Behav. 2007 Mar;32(3):449-64
references: 16844313
references: J Stud Alcohol Suppl. 2002 Mar;(14):91-100
references: 12022733
references: J Stud Alcohol. 2002 Mar;63(2):136-44
references: 12033690
references: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2002 Jun;31(2):278-94
references: 12056111
references: Accid Anal Prev. 2003 Mar;35(2):161-6
references: 12504136
references: J Stud Alcohol. 2002 Nov;63(6):755-61
references: 12529076
references: Addiction. 1994 Jun;89(6):707-23
references: 8069172
references: JAMA. 1994 Dec 7;272(21):1672-7
references: 7966895
references: Int J Addict. 1995 Aug;30(10):1311-22
references: 7591346
references: Am J Public Health. 1997 Jan;87(1):62-5
references: 9065228
references: J Am Coll Health. 1999 Jul;48(1):30-7
references: 10485163
references: Annu Rev Public Health. 2005;26:259-79
references: 15760289
references: Addiction. 2005 Apr;100(4):512-24
references: 15784066
references: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2006;32(2):275-85
references: 16595328
references: Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2006 Jun;32(6):820-32
references: 16648206
references: J Stud Alcohol. 2001 Jan;62(1):23-31
references: 11271961