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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jacquelyn N. Giem¹, Duane C. McBride, PhD¹, Herbert W. Helm, PhD¹, and Sharon A. Gillespie, MA MPH². (1) Behavioral Science Department, Andrews University, Nethery Hall #123, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, 269-277-4306, jacquely@andrews.edu, (2) Behavioral Sciences Department, Andrews University, 123 Nethery Hall, Berrien Springs, MI 49104

Previous research has shown that parental bonding is related to decreased alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use, while perception of substance use as normative is related to increased ATOD use. This study sought to examine whether parental or faculty bonding with students in a college setting could attenuate the relationship between perception of substance use and self-reported use. A survey of ATOD risk and protective factors was administered to 692 students. Significant positive correlations between perceived and self-reported drug use were found for tobacco (0.162, p<0.001), alcohol (0.201, p<0.001), and marijuana (0.174, p<0.001). Significant inverse correlations were found between need for parental approval and tobacco (-0.08, p<0.05) and alcohol (-0.10, p<0.05) use; and need for faculty approval and alcohol (-0.18, p<0.001) and marijuana (-0.10, p<0.001) use. Regression analyses showed that the addition of need for faculty approval to the analytical model was significant for the alcohol (p<0.001) and marijuana use models (p<0.05), while need for parental approval and the interactions between perception and need for faculty or parent approval did not contribute significantly to any model. These findings indicate that adult bonding with college students may lessen the amount of ATOD use, and while faculty bonding retains an independent association with alcohol and marijuana use, it does not attenuate the effect of over-perception on use. This suggests that while bonding is important to lessen drug use in college aged students, public health prevention education programs should first focus on reducing the over-perception of drug use as normative.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner in this session will be able to

• Understand the relationship between social bonding, perception of drug use prevalence and self-reported drug use.
• Prioritize prevention efforts to address over-perception of the extent of substance use among students.
• Develop effective ATOD school based programs in college populations.

Keywords: Drug Use, Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 11.4 kb)