College Students’ Reasons for Not Drinking and Not Playing Drinking Games

Abstract

Few studies have examined college students’ reasons for not drinking, and no studies have addressed their reasons for not playing drinking games. This study developed measures of both constructs using a sample of 147 college students. Principal components analysis identified six Reasons for Not Drinking factors and five Reasons for Not Playing Drinking Games factors. Internal consistency and intercorrelations of the factors were examined. The factors correlated in theoretically meaningful directions with measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol outcome expectancies, reasons for drinking, self-esteem, and personality. Research findings are discussed in regards to their relevance to prevention and treatment strategies among the college population.

• Alcohol abuse
• Abstinence
• College students
• Drinking games
• Nondrinkers

Resumen

Pocos estudios han examinado las razones por qué los alumnos universitarios no beben bebidas alcohólicas y ningún estudio se ha dirigido a las razones por las que no compiten en juegos de bebidas alcohólicas. El estudio presente ha desarrollado medidas de ambas prácticas usando un grupo de 147 alumnos universitarios. El análisis de los componentes principales identifica seis factores para Razones por No Beber y cinco factores para Razones pos No Participar en Juegos de Bebidas Alcohólicas. La consistencia interna y las correlaciones entre los factores fueron examinados. Los factores se correlacionaron teóricamente en significantes direcciones con las medidas de la consunción de alcohol, las expectativas de los resultados del alcohol, las razones por beber, el aprecio de sí mismo, y la personalidad. Los descrubrimentos de la investigación se discutieron en cuanto a su aplicabilidad para las estragias de prevención y de los tratatmientos entre la población universitaria.

Résumé

Tres peux d’etudes ont examine les raisons pourquois certain etudiants d’universite ne s’engage pas a boire, at aucune recherche n’ont adresse les reasons pour que les etudiants ne s’engage pas dan des jeux qui concerne les boissons alcolique. Cette etude courante a develop des measures, et elle se sert d’un echantillon de 147 etudiants. Les composants principal qui ont ete analises ont identifies 6 raisons a ne pas boire, et 5 raisons pour ne pas s’engager a des jeux qui concernes des boissons alcoloques. La consistence internelle et les intercorrelation des factors etait examine. Les factors ont correler d’une facon significative avec les measures de consummation d’alcool, de resultat expectative d’alcool, des raisons pour s’engager a boire, confiance en soi, et personalite. Les resultants de ces recherches ont discute les measures de strategies pour les preventions et les traitements dans les populations d’universites.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Thomas J. Johnson

Dr. Tom Johnson received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri–Columbia. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Indiana State University and Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Health, Religion, and Spirituality. His research focuses on alcohol use in college students and the role of personal goals in self-regulation and psychological adjustment. He is currently conducting a study on religiousness/spirituality and alcohol use in college students, funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in personality theories, theories of addiction, treatment of addictions, cognitive and constructivist psychotherapy, and history and systems of psychology.

Elan A. Cohen

Dr. Elan Cohen graduated with his Ph.D. from Indiana State University's Counseling Psychology Department. His clinical training has concentrated on college student counseling, and he is currently a staff psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania's Counseling and Psychological Services Center. His clinical interests center around multicultural and men's issues. His research focuses on racial identity, sexual minorities, counseling efficacy, religion and spirituality, and college student counseling.