title: Social comparison as a moderator of the association between perceived norms and alcohol use and negative consequences among college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to extend previous research examining the relationships among perceived drinking norms, alcohol use, and related negative consequences by examining the moderating influence of social comparison orientation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 481 college students (44% male) completed a Web-based survey that assessed perceptions of drinking behavior, social comparison orientation, and alcohol use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results suggested that social comparison orientation moderated the norm-behavior relationship such that the association between perceived drinking norms and alcohol-related negative consequences was stronger for those higher in social comparison. Results also showed that there was no moderation effect for alcohol consumption as the dependent variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study are potentially important when developing efficacious alcohol prevention and intervention programs at colleges and universities and in considering more complex models of social influences on drinking.
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. dlitt@uw.edu
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Litt
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Henriettae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stahlbrandt
authors.forename: Perry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Firth
authors.forename: Clayton
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neighbors
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012931:Social Environment; D012933:Social Identification; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities