Stefanie M Helmer1, Rene Sebena2, John McAlaney3, Janina Petkeviciene4, Ferdinand Salonna5, Andrea Lukács6, Rafael T Mikolajczyk7,8. 1. a Department of Prevention and Evaluation , Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology (BIPS) , Bremen , Germany. 2. b Department of Psychology , PJ Safarik University , Košice , Slovak Republic. 3. c Department of Psychology , Bournemouth University , Bournemouth , United Kingdom. 4. d Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences , Kaunas , Lithuania. 5. e Institute of Active Lifestyle, Palacký University of Olomuoc , Olomuoc , Czech Republic. 6. f Institute of Basic Health Sciences, University of Miskolc , Miskolc , Hungary. 7. g Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research , Braunschweig , Germany. 8. h Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess discrepancies between estimated peer and personal drinking behavior and to determine associations between perceptions of peer and personal drinking behavior among university students from Hungary (HU), Lithuania (LT), and the Slovak Republic (SK). METHODS: 2,554 freshman university students completed an online questionnaire on the frequency of their personal alcohol use, the number of heavy drinking occasions and on their perception concerning the corresponding drinking behavior of a typical student. Associations between perceived peer and personal use were analyzed by means of logistic regression, adjusting for sex. RESULTS: The majority of students across all countries thought their peers drink more frequently and are more often involved in heavy drinking occasions than themselves. Students who perceived the frequency of peer alcohol use to be higher were more likely to drink alcohol twice a week or more often (SR: OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.51-5.79; LT: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 2.11-4.75; HU: OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.53-2.87) compared with students who drink alcohol monthly or less. Those who perceived the number of peer heavy drinking occasions as high were more likely to report heavy drinking weekly or more often (SR: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.92-5.20; LT:OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 2.14-5.94; HU:OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.79-2.51) compared with students who report heavy drinking less than monthly. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: University students perceived peer alcohol use to be higher than their personal use. Given the association between perceptions and personal alcohol use, future research should investigate if targeting perceptions in the surveyed countries may have an impact on alcohol use.
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess discrepancies between estimated peer and personal drinking behavior and to determine associations between perceptions of peer and personal drinking behavior among university students from Hungary (HU), Lithuania (LT), and the Slovak Republic (SK). METHODS: 2,554 freshman university students completed an online questionnaire on the frequency of their personal alcohol use, the number of heavy drinking occasions and on their perception concerning the corresponding drinking behavior of a typical student. Associations between perceived peer and personal use were analyzed by means of logistic regression, adjusting for sex. RESULTS: The majority of students across all countries thought their peers drink more frequently and are more often involved in heavy drinking occasions than themselves. Students who perceived the frequency of peer alcohol use to be higher were more likely to drink alcohol twice a week or more often (SR: OR = 3.81, 95% CI = 2.51-5.79; LT: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 2.11-4.75; HU: OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.53-2.87) compared with students who drink alcohol monthly or less. Those who perceived the number of peer heavy drinking occasions as high were more likely to report heavy drinking weekly or more often (SR: OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.92-5.20; LT:OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 2.14-5.94; HU:OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.79-2.51) compared with students who report heavy drinking less than monthly. CONCLUSIONS/IMPORTANCE: University students perceived peer alcohol use to be higher than their personal use. Given the association between perceptions and personal alcohol use, future research should investigate if targeting perceptions in the surveyed countries may have an impact on alcohol use.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alcohol use; Europe; heavy drinking; perceptions; social norms; students
Authors: Stefanie M Helmer; Gregor Burkhart; João Matias; Christoph Buck; Feline Engling Cardoso; Julian Vicente Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-02-10 Impact factor: 3.390