Collegiate natural drinking groups: Characteristics, structure, and processes

Abstract

College students typically consume alcohol in groups. To examine group characteristics, structure, processes, and group drinking, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 (50% female; 60% non-Latino White) college students (18–24 years old). Participants described the last event they attended where alcohol was present. The interviews were fully transcribed and coded using an inductive approach with the software ATLAS.ti 5.2. The findings revealed that group formation often involved minimal planning and was facilitated by technologies such as phone, text messaging, and social networking Internet sites. Multiple roles were identified that supported the groups and that pertained to the drinking event organization, to drinking activities, or group regulation. As the groups reached drunkenness, decision negotiations were replaced by random actions that often exemplified the loss of judgment resulting from alcohol impairment, leading to risky situations. Understanding group dynamics and social roles in drinking groups could inform prevention efforts by identifying new loci of interventions; promoting pro-social roles in the group could encourage peers to become effective agents of prevention within the group.

• College students
• alcohol use
• drinking groups
• social roles
• qualitative research

Notes

Notes

1. First names in the interviews have been changed to ensure participants’ and group members’ confidentiality. Quotes have been slightly edited and shortened to increase readability and focus. Their contents and meanings have not been altered.