Peer crowd affiliations as predictors of prosocial and risky behaviors among college students

Abstract

Objectives

To examine college peer crowd affiliations and prosocial and risky behaviors (academic, sexual, drug, and alcohol related risks) as well as to investigate gender as a moderator of these relations. Participants: 527 students at a public university in the Midwest in Fall 2018 (M age = 19.67, SD = 1.84). Method: Students’ peer crowd affiliations were reported using an online survey. Four peer crowd dimensions were confirmed using Factor Analysis: Social (popular partiers and Greek organization members), Athletic, Arts/Diverse (students identifying strongly with a countercultural group, their race/ethnic group, and/or performing arts); and Scholastic (academic achievement and leadership). Results: Social crowd affiliations positively predicted all risk-related behaviors. Social and Scholastic affiliations positively predicted prosocial behaviors. Finally, gender significantly moderated the relations between peer crowd affiliations and risk and prosociality. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that peer crowd affiliation and gender are important when promoting positive behaviors on campus.

Keywords:

• Emerging adulthood
• peer crowd affiliations
• prosocial behaviors
• risky behaviors

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of the United States and received approval from the North Dakota State University.

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.

Ethical approval

This study was conducted in line with the ethical research guidelines of and approved by the IRB of the authors’ institution.