College Students' Binge Drinking: Differences in Predictors by Drinking Contexts

Background: Binge drinking is a serious health problem on most college campuses. Numerous studies have examined this behavior; however, only a limited number of studies have investigated variations in the behavior by drinking settings (i.e., drinking locations). This study examined variations in the correlates associated with binge drinking at six college drinking settings.

Methods: Random cross-sectional samples (N = 64,180) of undergraduates at 14 California universities completed online questionnaires on alcohol use at six settings (residence hall parties, fraternity/sorority parties, on-campus events, off-campus parties, bars/restaurants, outdoor settings) in annual surveys from 2008 to 2012. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were performed to compute odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of predictors of binge drinking at each setting.

Results: At each drinking setting except on-campus events, racial/ethnic minorities were less likely to binge drink than Whites. Men were more likely to binge drink at fraternity/sorority, off-campus, and outdoor settings. Living in substance-free housing was associated inversely with binge drinking at off-campus and bars settings. Married students were less likely to binge drink at off-campus, bars, and outdoor settings. Students aged ≥21 were less likely to binge drink at residence halls, off-campus, and outdoor settings, but more likely to binge drink at on-campus and bars settings. Students within the University of California schools were less likely to binge drink at bars and outdoor settings than those in the California State University system.

Conclusions: The study shows predictors of binge drinking vary by drinking settings.  Prevention implications for setting-specific interventions will be discussed.