ALCOHOL-USE AMONG COLLEGE-STUDENTS AS A FUNCTION OF THEIR TYPICAL SOCIAL DRINKING CONTEXT

This study investigated the relations among frequency of drinking in d ifferent social contexts; alcohol consumption, expectancies, and probl ems; and psychosocial characteristics among college students. Social d rinking contexts were defined by the size and gender composition of so cial groups. Participants were 98 men and 98 women who endorsed curren t alcohol use. The results showed that typical social drinking context s were associated with men's average daily number of drinks and freque ncy of drunkenness but were not associated with women's alcohol consum ption. Controlling for alcohol expectancies and personality factors di d not obscure significant social context effects for men's alcohol con sumption or problems, supporting the importance of considering social context variables in studies of drinking. Future research with regard to alcohol education, intervention, and prevention strategies is discu ssed.