Normative Perceptions of Peer Drinking Distinguish High-Intensity Drinkers from Other Drinking Groups

Abstract

Background: High-intensity drinking (HID), or drinking that doubles the binge threshold (i.e., 8+/10+ drinks for women/men), is associated with more negative consequences than binge-only drinking. However, research focusing on HID and factors that may delineate HID from other drinking behaviors is lacking. The present study evaluated if perceived norms for peer drinking behavior (i.e., descriptive norms for alcohol quantity and frequency and injunctive norms) differentiated high-intensity drinkers from other drinker statuses. Further, we evaluated the role of perceived norms on odds of HID engagement and HID frequency. Finally, college status, sex, and underage drinker status were evaluated as moderators of the association between perceived norms and HID status/frequency. Methods: Participants were 623 emerging adult drinkers recruited via Craigslist (68.7% male; 69.0% White). Participants completed an online survey on their drinking behaviors and related social factors. Results: Each domain of perceived norms positively associated with drinker status. Higher perceived norms were associated with greater odds of HID and predicted HID frequency. The association between quantity and frequency descriptive norms and HID engagement was stronger for nonstudents and was only significant for males. Underage drinker status did not moderate associations between perceived norms and HID engagement. Conclusions: Findings provided evidence that perceptions of peer drinking behaviors are strong indicators of HID risk and may be especially useful for identifying high-intensity drinking males and nonstudents. The utility of perceived peer norms to differentiate this group of particularly risky drinkers suggests that social-influence-focused intervention approaches, including norms correction, may be efficacious in targeting HID among emerging adults.

Keywords:

• High-intensity drinking
• drinker status
• perceived norms
• emerging adults
• education status

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article” and query for the author to confirm.

Author contribution

All authors contributed in a significant way to the manuscript, and all authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Notes

1 To provide support for our approach to categorizing drinker status based on the DDQ, we conducted a oneway ANOVA to evaluate differences on the Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire based on drinker status (e.g., non-binge, binge, and HID). Significant differences in consequences emerged between each group, with more severe drinker statuses reporting greater consequences.

2 Race was explored as a covariate in Aim 1 but ultimately excluded for parsimony given null effects on the model.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K01-AA018383).