An Event- and Network-Level Analysis of College Students’ Maximum Drinking Day

Background—Heavy episodic drinking is common among college students and remains a serious public health issue. Previous event-level research among college students has examined behaviors and individual-level characteristics that drive consumption and related consequences but often ignores the social network of people with whom these heavy drinking episodes occur. The main aim of the current study was to investigate the network of social connections between drinkers on their heaviest drinking occasions. Methods—Sociocentric network methods were used to collect information from individuals in the first-year class (N=1342) at one university. Past-month drinkers (N=972) reported on the characteristics of their heaviest drinking occasion in the past month and indicated who else among their network ties was present during this occasion. Results—Average max drinking day indegree, or the total number of times a participant was nominated as being present on another students’ heaviest drinking occasion, was 2.50 (SD = 2.05). Network autocorrelation models indicated that max drinking day indegree (e.g., popularity on heaviest drinking occassions) and peers’ number of drinks on their own maximum drinking occasions were significantly associated with participant maximum number of drinks, after controlling for demographic variables, pregaming, and global network indegree (e.g., popularity in the entire first-year class). Conclusion—Being present at other peers’ heaviest drinking occasions is associated with greater drinking quantities on one’s own heaviest drinking occasion. These findings suggest the potential for interventions that target peer influences within close social networks of drinkers

Do Misperceptions of Peer Drinking Influence Personal Drinking Behavior? Results From a Complete Social Network of First-Year College Students

This study considered the influence of misperceptions of typical versus self-identified important peers\u27 heavy drinking on personal heavy drinking intentions and frequency utilizing data from a complete social network of college students. The study sample included data from 1,313 students (44% male, 57% White, 15% Hispanic/Latinx) collected during the fall and spring semesters of their freshman year. Students provided perceived heavy drinking frequency for a typical student peer and up to 10 identified important peers. Personal past-month heavy drinking frequency was assessed for all participants at both time points. By comparing actual with perceived heavy drinking frequencies, measures of misperceptions of heavy drinking (accurately estimate, overestimate, underestimate) were constructed for both general and important peers. These misperceptions were then used as predictors of concurrent and prospective personal heavy drinking frequency and intentions using network autocorrelation analyses. The majority of students (84.8%) overestimated, 11.3% accurately estimated, and 3.9% underestimated heavy drinking among their general peers, whereas 42.0% accurately estimated, 36.9% overestimated, and 21.1% underestimated important peers\u27 heavy drinking. For both referents, overestimation of peer heavy drinking was associated with more frequent heavy drinking and higher drinking intentions at both time points. Importantly, the effects of underestimating and overestimating close peers\u27 drinking on personal alcohol use were significant after controlling for the influence of misperceptions of general peers\u27 heavy drinking. Close peers are a critical referent group in assessments related to social norms for young adult alcohol use. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed

Two sides of one coin? Jealousy, Self-Affirmation, and Self-Defamation

Although theorists of romantic jealousy differ regarding its origins and functions, all agree that the defining feature of jealousy is a romantic triangle involving three people: the jealous person, his or her relationship partner, and a real (or imagined) relationship threat. Moreover, volumes of research support the notion that jealousy is not a one-dimensional emotion but rather a multidimensional construct involving a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Furthermore, there is extensive research indicating that there are specific behaviors a romantic partner may engage in that are likely to produce a jealousy reaction, as well as certain rival characteristics that have been found to be associated with jealousy. Studies 1 and 2 aimed to extend the study of jealousy through the use of self-affirmation theory (SAT) by using SAT manipulations to reduce jealous thoughts and behaviors. Study 1results suggest that SAT was effective at reducing jealous thoughts and behavioral intentions. Moreover, the results of study 2 replicated the findings of study 1 using an alternative affirmation, specifically SAT once again led to reductions in jealous thoughts and behavioral intentions. Additionally, study 2 expanded upon self-affirmation through examining the darker side of self-statements by examining self-defaming statements in the context of jealousy. The results suggest that self-defaming participants evidenced increases in jealous thoughts and behavioral intentions. The findings are discussed in terms of the larger theoretical relevance as well as practical applications.Psychology, Department o

The good, the bad, and the ugly of jealousy: Positive and negative jealousy in the association between problem drinking and IPV perpetration.

In the context of established associations between alcohol problems and intimate partner violence (IPV), the current study investigated whether jealousy has positive and negative dimensions, and whether they differentially moderate the association between problem drinking and IPV perpetration in heavy-drinking college students (N=448). Factor analyses suggested positive and negative dimensions of jealousy. Whereas negative jealousy was conceptualized by the traditional definition of jealousy, positive jealousy reflected relationship commitment and emotional distress upon considering one’s partner becoming romantically involved with another person. Results supported hypotheses such that positive and negative jealousy dimensions moderated the drinking problems-IPV link in opposite directions: Drinking problems were associated with increased perpetration among individuals higher in negative and lower in positive jealousy. Results provide support for the notion that jealousy is not universally negative and highlight the importance of different types of jealousy in understanding the association between alcohol problems and IPV perpetration

An introduction to body vandalism: What is it? Who does it? When does it happen?

A number of typical consequences for alcohol and other substances have been well documented. However, a specific category of consequences which has received no attention in the existing literature includes acts (other than sexual assault) committed upon incapacitated individuals. We have termed this behavior Body Vandalism (BV), defined as the direct manipulation of an incapacitated individual through the addition of markings, objects or substances, removal of property or hair, or relocation of a body. The purpose of this paper is to provide a preliminary examination of rates of experiencing and variations in positive and negative perceptions of this behavior from victim's perspective. A pilot study was conducted aimed at examining the rates and demographic characteristics of body vandalism in a national sample of 981 adults. The majority of individuals had witnessed BV, half had perpetrated, and over 40% had been a victim in their lifetime. Rates of lifetime victimization and perpetration were low (1-2 times). Perpetrators most often targeted their friends and alcohol was typically a factor in victimization. Over half of victims reported experiencing positive social outcomes as a result of being victimized and about a third reported negative emotional outcomes. Findings suggest that experiences of body vandalism are relatively common, especially in young adults, associated with alcohol consumption, and result in both positive and negative outcomes for victims. This study offers evidence for BV as an outcome of social drinking, suggests contexts that increase the risk of BV occurrence, and provides a foundation from which future studies can build

Perceptions of partner drinking problems, regulation strategies, and relationship outcomes.

The current research evaluates how perceptions of one\u27s partner\u27s drinking problem relate to attempts to regulate partner behavior and relationship functioning, and whether this varies by perceptions of one\u27s own drinking. New measures are offered for Thinking about your Partner\u27s Drinking (TPD) and Partner Management Strategies (PMS). Participants included 702 undergraduates who had been in a romantic relationship for at least three months. Participants completed an online survey assessing perceptions of problematic drinking for one\u27s self and partner, ways in which attempts were made to regulate or restrain their partner\u27s drinking, relationship outcomes (i.e., satisfaction, commitment, trust, and need fulfillment), and alcohol use and consequences for self and partner. Factor analyses supported a single factor for Thinking about your Partner\u27s Drinking (TPD) and two factors for the Partner Management Strategies (PMS) scale (i.e., punishment and reward). Results using structural equation modeling indicated that perceiving one\u27s partner to have a drinking problem was associated with lower relationship functioning. Further, this association was mediated by strategies using punishment aimed at changing one\u27s partner\u27s drinking, but was not mediated by strategies using rewards. Finally, moderation results suggested that this relationship was not as detrimental for participants who perceived they also had an alcohol problem. In sum, perceiving one\u27s partner to have a drinking problem was associated with relationship problems through punishing regulation strategies, and was weaker among individuals who also perceived themselves to have a drinking problem