The Association between Heavy Episodic Drinking and Gender Orientation among U.S. College Students: The Significance of Masculinity

ABSTRACT

Background: Heavy episodic drinking (HED) remains a public health concern among college students. Sex differences are routinely reported in the literature although some evidence of convergence in drinking patterns has been observed. The association between sex and gender-orientation in HED remains unclear because sex and gender are often conflated. Objective: We examine the intersection of sex, gender-orientation and HED to determine if gender-orientation alone and/or in conjunction with sex play a role in HED among college students. Methods: Data were collected using a web-based self-administered survey made available to students enrolled in courses at a mid-sized Midwestern public university during the Fall of 2013 and the Spring of 2014 (N = 793). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between HED, sex, and gender orientation (measured using the short-form Bem Sex Role Inventory). Results: Our findings indicate that, regardless of sex, a masculine gender-orientation was positively associated with HED. Those who were found to have a feminine gender-orientation appeared to be at decreased risk for HED. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that sex and gender-orientation should be taken into account in prevention and intervention protocols at colleges and universities. Future work should examine the role of gender orientation among LGBTQ and ethno-racial minority populations.

KEYWORDS:

• College students
• femininity
• gender-orientation
• heavy episodic drinking
• HED
• masculinity
• sex

Conflicts of interest

The authors report that there are no conflicts of interest in the writing of this manuscript including financial, personal, or other relationships with other organizations or pharmaceutical/biomedical companies that may have inappropriately impacted or influenced this research or interpretation of the findings.

Disclosures and acknowledgments

The source of financial support for the conduct of the research was NIDA R25DA030310 (R.L. Peralta); K05DA015799 (J.C. Anthony, sponsor).

Contributors' statement

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