The effect of religiosity and campus alcohol culture on collegiate alcohol consumption.
Religiosity and campus culture were examined in relationship to alcohol consumption among college students using reference group theory.


METHODS
College students (N = 530) at a religious college and at a state university complete questionnaires on alcohol use and religiosity. Statistical tests and logistic regression were utilized to examine alcohol use, religiosity, and campus environment.


RESULTS
Alcohol consumption was significantly higher among students at the university (M = 26.9 drinks) versus students at the religious college (M = 11.9 drinks). University students also had lower religiosity scores (M = 23.8) than students at the religious college (M = 26.5). Students who attend a secular university are 4 times more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers compared to students attending a religiously affiliated college. Students with the least religiosity were 27 times more likely to be a heavy alcohol user and 9 times more likely to be a moderate alcohol user compared to students with greater religiosity.
Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723, USA. gwells@wcu.edu
Gayle M
GM
Wells
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D015279:Organizational Culture; D012067:Religion; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult