title: Drinking norms: predictors of misperceptions among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore misperceptions and predictors of misperceptions of celebration and general drinking norms. Participants were traditional college students (N=214).
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire was developed to assess personal drinking behavior and perceived drinking  norms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant misperceptions exist among students regarding their perception of the drinking patterns and behaviors displayed by peers in general and during celebration events. Overestimation is more prevalent for celebration drinking than for drinking in general. The  odds of being an overestimator are greater for out-of-state residents, frequent drinkers, and students with lower GPAs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective strategies should be implemented to correct misperceptions.
authors.affiliation: The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA. cdwoodya@olemiss.edu
authors.forename: Catherine Dane
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Woodyard
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hallam
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bentley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values; D055815:Young Adult