Alcohol Consumption at Missouri Postsecondary Institutions and the Socio-Ecological Model of Prevention

Alcohol consumption on college campuses is a very real and dangerous problem that college administrators face. There is a disconnection of the student influences and behaviors in regards to the level of their alcohol consumption. Limited knowledge on the definition of binge drinking, social norms in terms of alcohol consumption, and the true influences of alcohol consumption adds to this disconnection in regards of college prevention and intervention programs. Through a deeper understanding of student influences in relation to their level of alcohol consumption, a decrease in negative behaviors and consequences of drinking can occur on campuses. An examination of the socio-ecological model of prevention can serve as a tool to understand these influences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the socio-ecological model of prevention and the level to which a college student consumes alcohol. Specifically, this study investigated the influences of alcohol consumption by college students in Missouri through a quantitative survey research design. This study was conducted at 19 Missouri colleges and universities varying in type and student population. From the 19 institutions, 99 student respondents were yielded from the quantitative survey. The survey was voluntary for student participation therefore the data analysis was generalisable to only those that participated in the survey. The data collected from the survey was analyzed using a multiple regression. The study looked specifically at the relationship between the level to which a student consumes alcohol and six independent variables: the individual, relationship, community, and societal factors of the socio-ecological model of prevention, the age of a student, and the sex of the student. The findings of this study indicated a relationship of 28.9% between the model as a whole (all six independent variables) and the level of alcohol consumption. There was also a relationship indicated between the individual, community, and societal factors and the sex of the student. There was no statistical significance in the relationship between the relationship factor of the socio-ecological model and alcohol consumption as well as the age of the student and the level of alcohol consumption