Misperception of College Drinking Norms

ABSTRACT

This study of 1,201 college students from a minority-serving institution examines the joint distribution of self-reported drinking and the perception of other students' drinking across ethnic/race groups. Results indicated a main effect for ethnic/race group and main effects for gender and heavy drinking status. Interaction terms were not statistically significant. Several randomized clinical trials report that assessment and feedback which corrects misperceived drinking norms (norm challenge) result in reduced drinking among college students. Norm challenge interventions are based on the self-regulation principle of amplifying the ambiguity that stems from discrepancy between perceived norms and actual norms of drinking. If the relationship between others' drinking and personal drinking differs across ethnic/race groups then improving the effect of the norm challenge may be a matter of presenting ethnic/race-specific rather than generic drinking norms.

Key Words:

• Alcohol use
• self-regulation
• norm challenge
• discrepancy