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Objectives: To explore the use of protective behaviors to reduce risks associated with alcohol consumption among adolescents during the summer preceding college enrollment. Methods: Survey data were collected in fall 2006 and 2007 that assessed demographic characteristics, drinking behaviors, and use of protective behaviors in the 3 months preceding the survey. Results: Female participants reported using 4 out of 10 protective behaviors more often than did males, and using protective behaviors was significantly related to fewer negative drinking- related consequences. Conclusions: Findings highlight potential benefits of using protective behaviors and the need to promote effective behaviors.
Key words: protective behaviors; harm reduction; college drinking
Am J Health Behav. 2009;33(5):610-619
High-risk drinking among college students has been recognized as a significant public health problem. Four of 5 college students drink alcohol, and half of these engage in heavy episodic drinking.1-5 The consequences of highrisk drinking are numerous and undesirable. High-risk drinking among college students has been associated with greater likelihood of negative consequences such as physical and sexual assault, health problems, unsafe and unplanned sexual activity, sexual harassment, impaired sleep and study time, and interpersonal problems.3,6-17
Alcohol use is culturally and socially accepted during the transition from high school to college.2 Numerous studies show that late adolescence and early adulthood are the peak time for heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems, along with other substance use and other risky and illegal behaviors.18-20 High school students intending to go to college have lower rates of alcohol and other substance use compared to their noncollege-bound peers. However, in the years immediately following high school, college students have higher rates of alcohol use and frequent heavy drinking, even though they have lower rates of other substance use.19-21 This period of initiation and accelerated use is an important time to intervene, as it can affect longterm use and lifelong difficulties.22
Much of the increase in alcohol use has been attributed to major individual (eg, alcohol expectancies, perceptions of drinking norms) and contextual changes (eg, decreased parental monitoring) that adolescents experience during this transition period.23,24 White and colleagues found that leaving home and going to college were significantly associated with increased frequency of alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking during the time between high school and emerging adulthood. 24 The increase...