Date of Award
8-2009
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Teaching & Learning
Abstract
It is common knowledge that many college students consume alcohol and/or binge drink. North Dakota colleges and universities are not immune to high levels of alcohol consumption, as they are among the leaders for binge drinking for people aged 18 to 25. Any number of reasons could explain this behavior, including new freedoms enjoyed by many 18 to 19-year olds; the aggressive marketing and glamorization of alcohol consumption by alcohol companies; and/or curiosity, rite of passage, peer pressure, or simply the desire to get drunk.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between levels of alcohol consumption by undergraduate students and grade level (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors), gender (male or female), grade point average, and the influences of parental expectations and rules. Additionally, levels of consumption and awareness of campus alcohol policies, enforcement of campus alcohol policies, awareness of prevention programs, place of residence (on or off campus), and suffering from negative consequences because of drinking were explored.
Results indicated that a majority of North Dakota undergraduate students continued to consume at high levels in spite of parental expectations and rules, suggesting that there is something about the overall campus environment that entices students to drink. There did not appear to be a relationship between consumption and students' awareness of campus alcohol policies or prevention programs; however, there appeared to be a relationship between consumption and the enforcement of campus policies, suggesting that the campus culture and environment could be contributing factors in student drinking.
The seriousness of alcohol consumption among college students cannot be understated. Results of the current study revealed that increased levels of alcohol consumption could cause negative consequences such as having a hangover, missing class, or doing poorly on an exam, which was not surprising. Additional findings indicated that more serious and potentially detrimental negative consequences such as damaging property, trouble with the police, arguing or fighting, and/or DUI are also possibilities after consuming large amounts of alcohol.
Recommended Citation
Keller, Lory M., "Alcohol on College Campuses in North Dakota: Levels of Consumption, Gender, and Negative Consequences" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 872.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/872