Independence and alcohol consumption in college women and men

During the transition from high school to college, many students increase their alcohol consumption. This trend is particularly noticeable among women, who display greater increases than men. This two-part study examined the relation between independence and college alcohol consumption. Independence, defined as the physical, psychological, and emotional separation from one's parents which occurs when students leave home to go to college, is related differently to female alcohol consumption than to male alcohol consumption. Survey data from 136 freshmen and sophomore undergraduates at Cornell University found that among women it is those who are more independent who are consuming more alcoholic drinks per week, whereas among men, it is those who are more dependent. The second part of the study surveyed undergraduates at Towson University to examine the relation between high school independence and college alcohol consumption. The data collected is currently under analysis. Final analysis will examine how students' levels of independence changed during their transition from high school to college and the relation of that change to college alcohol consumption, using sex as a moderator. There are several policy implications from this study. As school administrators have acknowledged that alcohol is a problem on their campuses, many colleges and universities have begun to implement alcohol prevention programs for their first-year students. However, none of these schools adjusts their programs based on their participants' gender. As we better understand the different relations between independence and alcohol consumption in women and men, we can help create more effective alcohol prevention programs.