College Students’ Utilization of Protective Alcohol-Use Behaviors

Effects of Age, Gender, and Year in School

Abstract

Background and Purpose: College drinking is a major public health concern with four out of every five college students reporting alcohol use. The authors examined the frequency with which students utilized 11 protective alcohol use behaviors from the 2011 American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment (ACHA – NCHA – II). The effects of age, gender, and year in school on each of these behaviors were also examined. Methods: A total of 1,082 randomly selected students attending a California State University institution completed a web-based version of the NCHA-II. Descriptive statistics were conducted to describe the sample and the protective behaviors. Logistic regression analysis were conducted to assess the associations between each behavior with age, gender, and year in school. Results: The most frequently utilized behavior was staying with the same friends. Compared to undergraduate students, graduate students were more likely to utilize protective behaviors, and males were more likely than females to utilize the majority of these behaviors. Conclusions: This study provides support for the implementation of alcohol-related interventions in different sectors of the university, such as dormitories and fraternities.