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

Abstract #114528

Stuart Usdan, PhD, CHES¹, Jessica Aungst², Jennifer Cremeens³, Ryan J. Martin, MS³, and Jay Bernhardt, PhD⁴. (1) Health Sciences, Univeristy of Alabama, 110 East Annex, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311, 205-348-8373, susdan@ches.ua.edu, (2) Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, c/o Jay Bernhardt, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322, (3) Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter St., HESC 221C, Columbia, SC 29208, (4) Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Office 524, Atlanta, GA 30322

The widespread abuse of alcohol among college students is one of the most serious health problems facing U.S. college campuses. Efforts to develop effective individual and environmental strategies to reduce alcohol-related problems among college students can be improved by developing a greater understanding of the social context in which college drinking takes place. Eight focus groups with undergraduates from two universities in the Southeastern U.S. were conducted to increase our understanding of the context and consequences of college student drinking. Four two-hour focus groups (n=80) were held on each campus and were segmented by student gender and class year (1st and 2nd year students together and 3rd and 4th year students together). A range of consequences resulting from excessive drinking were offered and discussed by participants such as academic problems, sexual situations, and fighting. Several themes emerged from the data, particularly related to negative consequences experienced after episodes of heavy drinking. Physical consequences were the most common alcohol-related problems experienced, but were not considered to be serious by many participants. Most students reported that they did not plan or intend to get intoxicated prior to episodes of heavy drinking. There were significant differences by student gender related to perceptions of negative consequences from drinking. Based on these study findings, it is important that efforts to reduce harms caused by excessive alcohol use include educational programs and tailored interventions to address consequences that are the most harmful and experienced with the most frequency.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, the participant will be able to

• Discuss the most frequently experienced negative consequences experienced after heavy drinking by college students;
• Identify important contextual factors related to heavy drinking among college students;
• Understand elements of context and consequences that are important for incorporating into individualized college drinking prevention programs.

Keywords: Alcohol, 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.