Social drinking in supportive contexts among college males.

Two hundred and five male college students were administered a number of self-report questionnaires to assess the role of social drinking in their social support processes. Results indicated that the quantity and frequency of social drinking was positively related to seven of the ten social support variables associated with male social network members, but only one of ten female support variables. Other results showed that subjects obtained half of their companionship support in social drinking encounters, as well as over a quarter of their emotional support and one fifth of their material assistance and problem-solving support. Further analysis demonstrated that the male subjects received a higher proportion of all types of support while drinking when the support sources were male than compared to when they were female. These results are consistent with previous studies, which found that social drinking and social support are positively related. Social drinking seems to play an important role in the social support processes of college males, especially when other males are involved.