Predicting Alcohol Misuse Among College Students in the US and South Korea

Abstract

This study examines contributing factors of alcohol misuse among college students in South Korea and the U.S. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA) on measurements of alcohol expectancy, alcohol efficacy, and accommodation resulted in social and personal causes for alcohol misuse. Social causes alone predicted alcohol misuse for both countries. Social factors constituted a much stronger predictor of alcohol misuse among South Korean students than among American students. Practical implications for effective deterrence of student binge drinking are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol expectancy
• alcohol misuse
• college students
• cross-cultural
• self-construal
• refusal efficacy