Alcohol use among college students: The effects of prior problem behaviorsand change of residence

Objective: This article examines the relationship between prior problem beh aviors and change in residence on alcohol use patterns among college studen ts. Method: Measures of alcohol consumption (e.g., drinking frequency, aver age consumption and frequency of heavy episodic drinking were related to re sidence patterns and prior problem behaviors (e.g., conduct problems, illic it substance involvement and early age at onset of alcohol consumption). Su bjects (N = 2,465; 51% women) were a subsample drawn from the National Long itudinal Study of Labor Market Experience in Youth. The analysis was conduc ted using a linear growth model for continuous outcomes with time-invariant and time-varying covariates for each of the drinking measures. Results: Th e results of the structural equation analysis yielded significant and direc t effects related to residence patterns and prior problem behaviors. proble m behaviors were related to drinking measures; however, them was no evidenc e for a mediational hypothesis. Neither was there systematic evidence that the relationship between prior problem behavior and alcohol use was mediate d by residence patterns. The analysis of change in residence was related to both time-specific and longer-term influences on alcohol use. Conclusions: The presence of direct and independent effects for both dispositional and high-risk environmental factors in collegiate drinking practices support ta rgeted and diverse strategies for prevention activities.