Binge-Drinking and Non-Binge-Drinking Student-Athletes: The Role of Proximal Norms, Negative Expectancies, and Selected Sociodemographic Variables

ABSTRACT

Researchers have identified college student-athletes as a subgroup at risk for heavy drinking and associated consequences. Yet, few studies have examined multiple variables simultaneously to determine which stand out as most robust to explain drinking behavior among student-athletes. Student-athletes from 54 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions (N = 2,659) completed an online questionnaire as part of an online alcohol education program. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated a unique profile based on descriptive and injunctive norms and alcohol outcome expectancies among binge-drinking student-athletes compared to non-binge-drinking athletes. Gender differences also emerged within the sample. Implications for campus mental health, university, and athletic personnel are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• binge drinking
• expectancies
• social norms
• student-athletes

Note

Notes

1. Research has shown that students who have never consumed alcohol tend to endorse several reasons for not drinking, including lifestyle choice, personal values, religious beliefs, not endorsing the image as a drinker, and negative expectancies about alcohol's behavioral effects (Huang, DeJong, Schneider, & Towvim, 2011). As such, the impact of social norms may not have as much sway with those who are firmly committed to an abstinence lifestyle. However, among those who do consume alcohol, perceptions of peer drinking have been found to be a well-established predictor of drinking behavior.