The relationships between parental and peer norms and moderate drinking among first-year college students: similarities and differences in typical and celebration drinking

Abstract

ABSTRACT The study explored how perceived parental and peer norms toward moderate drinking can be related to first-year college students’ drinking behavior across two occasions: typical days and celebrations. First-year college students were recruited to participate in an online survey (n = 127). For typical drinking, perceived peer descriptive norms during celebration showed a statistically significant relationship. Both perceived peer descriptive and injunctive norms were statistically associated with typical and celebratory drinking by first-year students. Unlike the predictions, perceived parental norms regarding moderate drinking were not associated with alcohol consumption across two occasions. The results emphasize the subtle impact of various social contexts and reference groups on the drinking habits of the first years.