Athletic involvement and its relevance to hazardous alcohol use and drinking game participation in female college athletes: a preliminary investigation.
OBJECTIVE
The authors designed this cross-sectional study to examine sports team differences in hazardous alcohol use and drinking game participation, as well as the social correlates of these behaviors among female college athletes (N = 176; M age = 19.9 years, SD = 1.24, range = 18-22).


METHODS
Respondents completed self-report surveys in small groups. They reported drinking behaviors, frequency of team social events involving alcohol use, and team cohesion.


RESULTS
The authors found significant differences across sports teams with regard to hazardous alcohol use and participation in drinking games with teammates. Findings also revealed that a high frequency of team social events involving alcohol use was associated with elevated use and an increased likelihood of drinking game participation.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors discuss future research directions and implications.
Zamboanga
Byron L
BL
Department of Psychology, Clark Science Center, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, USA. bzamboan@smith.edu
Rodriguez
Liliana
L
Horton
Nicholas J
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities