University Characteristics as Correlates of Student Alcohol Use: A Multisite National Study

This study examined how university characteristics were associated with students' drinking behavior. Participants were 6,139 university students from 30 institutions across the U.S. Participants reported demographics and completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Schools were characterized on variables across three categories: organizational (e.g., presence of fraternity/sorority student organizations), physical and behavioral (e.g., U.S. region), and campus community (e.g., urban-rural classification). School and student characteristics were entered in multilevel models predicting drinking status and AUDIT scores. Controlling for significant individual-level characteristics, higher drinking likelihood was observed among students at schools with a lower percentage of commuters, and those in the Northeast or Midwest (versus West). Students at schools in the Midwest had higher AUDIT scores (versus Southeast; Southwest). Some school characteristics are related to alcohol use outcomes and may differentially impact students' drinking behavior. Considering university characteristics may help inform school policies to curb heavy drinking.