HPRHealth Psychology ResearchTBA2420-8124Health Psychology Research10.4081/hpr.2014.1457GeneralExamining factors associated  with heavy episodic drinking  among college undergraduateshttps://healthpr.org/journal/HPR/2/2/10.4081/hpr.2014.1457SchollyKristen,R. KatzAlan,KehlLisa2014222014-04-26Heavy episodic drinking among college stu dents is a serious health concern. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with heavy episodic drinking behaviors amongst a predominately Asian undergraduate college student population in the United States. A survey measuring alcohol use behav iors was completed by a random sample of 18 24 year old undergraduates during April, 2011. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with students’ heavy episodic drinking behav ior. Independent factors associated with heavy episodic drinking included living on campus, ethnicity, perceived drinking behavior among peers, and a belief that alcohol is a central part of one’s social life. Heavy episodic drinking was also associated with poor academic per formance. Campus-wide educational strate gies to reduce heavy episodic drinking among college undergraduates should incorporate accurate information regarding alcohol use norms to correct students’ perceived over esti mation of their peers alcohol consumption rates and the under estimation of students pro tective alcohol use behaviors. These efforts should focus in on-campus residence halls where a higher occurrence of heavy episodic drinking is often found.adolescents, alcohol use behaviors, college health, heavy episodic drinking, social norms

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