Examining alcohol use and relational ethics in a college student sample

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 325 - 330
• Main Authors: Patton, Rikki, Weigold, Ingrid K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 01.02.2022; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology; Alcohol Drinking - psychology; Alcohol Drinking in College - psychology; Alcohol Education; Alcohol use; College students; Correlation; Credibility; Dating; Dating (Social); Drinking; Drinking behavior; Ethics; Humans; Interpersonal Relationship; Intimacy; Medical ethics; Prevention; Prevention programs; Psychology; Race; Research subjects; Romantic relationships; Student Attitudes; Student Characteristics; Students - psychology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trust (Psychology); Undergraduate Students; Universities; Veterans; AUDIT; alcohol; relational ethics; quantitative
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1756824

Objective: Research examining the relationship between alcohol use and relational ethics (fairness and trustworthiness in family and romantic relationships) among college students is lacking. Method: Participants were recruited from a Department of Psychology human subjects pool at a Midwestern university. A total of 421 participants were included in the current study and completed an online survey measuring demographics, hazardous alcohol use, and relational ethics. Results: Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed a statistically significant relationship between alcohol use and horizontal relational ethics (i.e. perceived fairness in their romantic relationships), Greek involvement, race, and veteran status. Conclusions: Findings indicated college students who approach their dating relationships with a stronger sense of trustworthiness and fairness are less likely to engage in hazardous drinking. Alcohol prevention and intervention programs on colleges campuses may consider the inclusion of relational components in their programing.