Neither a problem nor my problem: Risk factors for underage drinking disengagement among college students

Abstract

Objective

Underage drinking disengagement (UDD; cognitive restructuring/minimizing agency) measures attitudes about the acceptability and responsibility of drinking. We examined demographic correlates of UDD, as well as the moderating effects of legal drinking status on the association between UDD and drinking.

Participants

College student drinkers (n = 893; Mage = 19.48, range = 18–25; White = 74.1%; female = 68.1%) from a multi-site study.

Methods

An online confidential survey included the UDD Scale for College Students and the AUDIT-C.

Results

White and multiracial, underage students, or those living with others endorsed greater cognitive restructuring disengagement than Hispanic students, legal-age students, or those living alone or with parents, respectively. Greek membership and greater “party school” perceptions were related to more cognitive restructuring and minimizing agency. The associations between UDD and alcohol use were not moderated by legal drinking age status.

Conclusion

Identifying and educating students at risk for UDD on the ramifications associated with underage drinking could combat drinking.

Keywords:

• Moral disengagement
• underage drinking
• risk factors
• demographics
• alcohol use

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of United States and received approval from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.