Massengale KEC, Ma A, Rulison KL, Milroy JJ, Wyrick DL. Perceived norms and alcohol use among first-year college student-athletes' different types of friends.
JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2017;
65:32-40. [PMID:
27610821 PMCID:
PMC5540135 DOI:
10.1080/07448481.2016.1233557]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To describe first-year college student-athletes' friendship contexts and test whether their perceptions of alcohol use and approval by different types of friends are associated with their own alcohol use.
PARTICIPANTS
First-year student-athletes (N = 2,622) from 47 colleges and universities participating in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports during February-March 2013.
METHODS
Student-athletes completed online surveys during the baseline assessment of an alcohol and other drug prevention program evaluation. Analyses tested whether perceptions of friends' alcohol use (descriptive norms) and perceptions of friends' approval of alcohol use (injunctive norms) predicted their alcohol use.
RESULTS
Both use and approval perceptions by upperclassmen, same-team, and most influential friends significantly predicted alcohol use. By contrast, only perceived use by first-year, nonteam, and less influential friends significantly predicted alcohol use.
CONCLUSIONS
Athletics departments' alcohol policies and prevention programming for first-year student-athletes should address the potential influence of different types of friends on alcohol use.
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