Aims: This study sought to describe college students’ positive alcohol expectancies for improving academic performance and to assess whether these expectancies relate to certain drinking practices.
Measurements: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to 400 randomly selected Boston University seniors in 1999. Drinking practices were measured by asking respondents their average daily alcohol consumption and number of days/week they consumed alcohol during the current school year, and whether they ever consumed alcohol the night before a quiz or an exam during their college career. Alcohol expectancies for improving academic performance were measured by asking respondents on a five-point Likert scale whether they strongly agreed (5) to strongly disagreed (1) with four alcohol expectancy statements.
Findings: Approximately 40% (39.8%) agreed with at least one of the four alcohol expectancy statements. Those believing in the positive benefits of alcohol, as compared to those who did not, were significantly likely to drink more drinks per day (1.4 vs 1.1, p=.021), drink more days per week (2.3 vs. 1.6, p=.001), and report ever drinking the night before a quiz (60.6% vs. 40.7%, p=.002) or an exam (45.5% vs. 20.7%, p=.001). Even after controlling for gender, age, place of residence, and frequency of drinking, those believing in the positive benefits of alcohol for academic performance were 1.19 (p=.002) times more likely to ever drink alcohol the night before an exam.
Conclusions: College alcohol prevention programs may benefit from challenging students’ perceived benefits of alcohol consumption for improving academic performance
Learning Objectives: Needs learning objectives
Keywords: Alcohol Use, College Students
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.