Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109555

Morrow Reeves Omli, MAEd, CSAC, Public Health Sciences/Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, 2nd Floor, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, 336-713-5092, mromli@wfubmc.edu, Thomas McCoy, MS, Biostatistics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, MRI, 3rd Floor, Room 318, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, Gail Cohen, MD, General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Watlington Hall, 2nd Floor, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, Scott D. Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Section on Social Sciences and Health Policy, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, Kimberly G. Wagoner, MPH, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, PO Box 573050, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-3050, Mark Wolfson, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School Medicine, 2000 West First Street, Piedmont Plaza II, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, and Robert DuRant, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157.

Purpose: Many college students report being disrupted by the behaviors of other students who have consumed alcohol. This study examined differences in gender, race, year in school, and current (at least one drink in the past 30 days) versus non-current drinking status, in consequences from others' drinking.

Methods: A stratified random sample from all undergraduate students enrolled in 10 universities in North Carolina during the fall of 2003 was selected. A web-based survey that included alcohol-related consequences (self and others) was completed by 3920 students. An Others-Consequence Scale was created from 16 consequences using principal components analysis. Data were analyzed using non-parametric tests and robust methods for multiple mixed modeling regression to adjust for outliers of other-consequences experienced and to account for within college correlations of students.

Results: The respondents reported a median of 5.5 total consequences as a result of others' drinking. The individual consequences included finding litter/vomit around the student residence, having verbal arguments and/or physical fights, being threatened with physical violence, or pushed/hit/assaulted, having personal property/residence damaged, and being victimized by crime. There were many gender differences for individual others-consequences (P<.01 for each). Overall, males (median=6) experienced more total others-consequences than females (median=4.5) (P =.02). Furthermore, the underclassmen experienced more total others-consequences (P<.01). Finally, differences in race and drinking status were found (P<.01).

Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that there are significant consequences from others' drinking, and associated factors of those consequences experienced by college students.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to

• Articulate the primary ways in which college students' lives are disrupted by the behavior of other students who have consumed alcohol
• Describe and discuss the Others-Consequence Scale within the scope of this study 3.Recognize the need for greater understanding and research in the area of consequences from others' drinking among college students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.