Date of Award

Summer 2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

Michelle L. Kelley

Committee Member

Robin Lewis

Committee Member

Miguel Padilla

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65 D55 2011

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to extend the limited research on alcohol norms specific to alcohol consequences via perceived susceptibility. A handful of previous studies have established that college students overestimate the number of alcohol-related consequences that others experience relative to themselves. The current research explored the relationships between perceived susceptibility to alcohol consequences compared to targets (i.e., same-sex close friend, and typical same-sex student) and other variables predictive of problematic alcohol use in emerging adults. Results indicated that emerging adults perceive the typical same-sex student at their university as experiencing the most alcohol-related consequences, followed by their close same-sex friend, and reporting that they themselves experience the least amount of alcohol related consequences. Perceived susceptibility compared to the typical same-sex student was a stronger predictor of participants’ experience of alcohol consequences than participants own alcohol consumption. Contrary to expected, perceived susceptibility was not subject to gender difference. Perceived susceptibility to alcohol consequences remains a largely untouched area of alcohol research, but may lead to effective alcohol intervention programs based on personalized feedback.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/4nw0-5970

Download

Share

COinS