Work

University Characteristics as Correlates of Student Alcohol Use: A Multisite National Study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study examined how university characteristics were associated with students' drinking behavior. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 6,139 university students from 30 institutions across the U.S. METHODS: Participants reported demographics and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Schools were characterized on variables across three categories: organizational (e.g., presence of fraternity/sorority student organizations), physical and behavioral (e.g., U.S. region), and campus community (e.g., urban-rural classification). School and student characteristics were entered in multilevel models predicting drinking status and AUDIT scores. RESULTS: Controlling for significant individual-level characteristics, higher drinking likelihood was observed among students at schools with a lower percentage of commuters, and those in the Northeast or Midwest (versus West). Students at schools in the Midwest had higher AUDIT scores (versus Southeast; Southwest). CONCLUSIONS: Some school characteristics are related to alcohol use outcomes and may differentially impact students' drinking behavior. Considering university characteristics may help inform school policies to curb heavy drinking.

Source: Substance Use & Misuse

DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2025.2567446

Authors: Jennifer E. Merrill, Byron L. Zamboanga, Siobhan N. Perks, Nioud Mulugeta Gebru, Gabriela López

Institutions: Brown University, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Rhode Island Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism