title: Subjective evaluations of alcohol-related consequences among college students: Experience with consequences matters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research suggests college students rate some alcohol-related consequences less negatively than others, yet it is unclear how or when these differences in perception develop. The current study compared college students' subjective evaluations of alcohol-related consequences that they had and had not experienced in order to test the hypothesis that students become desensitized to the consequences they experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 269 undergraduate students enrolled at a large, public, Midwestern university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed measures of drinking behaviors, consequences experienced, and subjective evaluations of consequences via an online survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants rated the consequences they had personally experienced more positively than those they had not experienced. Similarly, individuals who reported experiencing consequences rated them as significantly more positive than those who had not experienced the same consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Experience with consequences is associated with more positive evaluations of those consequences. Therefore, it may be important to consider individuals' experiences with, and evaluations of, alcohol-related consequences in college student drinking interventions.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA.
authors.forename: Eleanor L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Leavens
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA.
authors.forename: Thad R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Leffingwell
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA.|b Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences , Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies , Providence , RI , USA.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA.
authors.forename: Emma I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Brett
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , Oklahoma State University , Stillwater , OK , USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lombardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol use; college students; consequences; subjective evaluations