What is it about?
How quickly young people can generate thoughts about social reactions to their drinking (norm accessibility) is an important predictor of future drinking behavior. In addition, the way they think about others who drink -- e.g., are drinkers interesting and fun people, or are they irresponsible? -- can affect interest in drinking. These two variables appear to work together to increase college drinking behavior.
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Why is it important?
College student alcohol consumption puts students at risk of academic problems. It also puts students at risk of injury due to accidents and exposes them to potential violence and sexual assault. Reducing college student drinking is an important goal. This work helps us to understand the social context of drinking, which may help in the development of interventions to reduce drinking behavior.
Perspectives
I think it is important to help college students make smart choices about drinking. I hope this research will help those who work directly with college students to guide students' actions and to help create a healthier social environment in residence halls.
Dr. Nancy Rhodes
Michigan State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Prototypes of drinkers and accessibility of injunctive norms predict college drinking, Journal of Health Psychology, January 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1359105316683240.
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