Alcohol Consumption in Undergraduate Students: The Role of Ego-Identity Status, Alcohol Expectancies, and Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy

Abstract

The study examined the effects of ego identity status, matriculation level, and gender on alcohol consumption, alcohol expectancies, and drinking refusal self-efficacy. Male (n = 64) and female (n = 114) undergraduate students at a 4-year college were surveyed and classified into four identity status categories. Data on alcohol expectancies, drinking refusal self-efficacy, and quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption were obtained. Results of the ANOVA for alcohol consumption in males supported research that indicates ego identity status affects consumption levels. Identity foreclosed males consumed greater quantities of alcohol than did males classified in moratorium status. Ego identity status did not significantly affect consumption levels in females. Although the results of the multivariate statistics for the variables of interest did not reveal significant interaction effects, several main effects for gender and matriculation level were noted. These findings are discussed in terms of prevention and education efforts on college campuses. Analyses suggested multifactor interventions designed specifically to enhance drinking refusal self-efficacy, expectancy challenges, and psychosocial maturity will affect consumption levels and behavior patterns in undergraduate students.