Binge drinking and negative alcohol-related behaviors: A test of self-control theory.

The current study began with the claim that binge drinking among college undergraduates was widespread and carried numerous negative consequences for their health and behavior. Researchers began to investigate the origins of the binge-drinking phenomenon, and focused attention on a range of explanations, including membership in Greek organizations, self-esteem, and peer influences. This research brought a major criminological theory to bear on college student binge drinking. Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) self-control theory asserts that the habit of ignoring long-term negative consequences—i.e., low self-control--results in a range of antisocial and self-destructive behaviors. Binge-drinking behavior--in view of the long-term consequences noted in the literature--appeared to be a behavior that was quite consistent with low self-control.

In light of other known correlates, results from the current study showed that self-control was an important predictor of binge drinking and alcohol-related behaviors. Similar to Piquero et al.'s findings (2002), low self-control could not account for the effect binge drinking had on alcohol-related behaviors. That is, both low self-control and binge drinking had important effects on alcohol-related behaviors. Subsequent analyses that explored interaction effects revealed that binge drinking was a more important predictor of alcohol-related behaviors for students possessing low self-control compared to their high self-control counterparts, with those possessing extremely low self-control being more susceptible to the negative behavioral effects of binge drinking. Although support for self-control theory emerged, other variables were also important in predicting both outcomes. Delinquent peers exerted almost twice the effect of low self-control, indicating that social learning was an important theoretical avenue to pursue in explaining binge drinking and alcohol-related behaviors among college students.

Data used in this study had some limitations. A sample of predominantly younger students attending a single southern university was employed, thus, limiting generalizability. While a broad sampling frame was a desirable objective, the main goal was to develop an exploratory test of the relationship between binge drinking, alcohol-related behaviors, and the additive and interactive effects of self-control. Readers should view the current results as preliminary evidence of a linkage between self-control, binge drinking, and behavioral problems associated with such drinking practices. Future research should strive to broaden the sampling frame.

The definition of binge drinking in the current research was based on a conventional, but arbitrary, threshold. Five or more drinks during one sitting appeared in comparable research, but one might reasonably question whether the five-drink rule ought to apply to everyone equally. Females, for instance, might become intoxicated after fewer drinks. Utilizing the five-drink cut-off could have underestimated the number of binge drinking females in this sample. The cut-off used in this study, nevertheless was employed for two important reasons. First, the current study's purpose was to extend findings from Piquero et al. (2002); therefore, it was essential to remain operationally consistent. Second, if a different standard was used across gender, it would have forced the researchers to compute separate models for males and females, thus jeopardizing the statistical power of a sample that was initially small to begin with. Finally, five drinks could be too few for those of sufficiently large body mass. A more valid criterion for binge drinking in future research should incorporate measures estimating blood-alcohol level per drink for each respondent, given the gender and body mass of the imbiber.

Despite limitations, the current study indicated that self-control theory could be helpful in developing a better understanding of binge drinking and alcohol-related behaviors. Future studies should take into account accessibility to alcohol and the level of freedom of the student from adult supervision and university restrictions. A consideration of these opportunity variables, which Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) considered an essential component of their self-control theory, would further elucidate why binge drinking takes place among college students and on campuses across the United States. Finally, while further exploration of self-control, binge drinking, and alcohol-related behaviors warrants more empirical attention, the influence of peer groups warrants the same. Peer delinquency, although not the focus of the current study, had the most important impact on binge drinking. Future research should expand on the important role of peer groups and how they can influence drinking practices during college. Research interests might include peer group dynamics such as formation and selection, stability, primary and secondary groups, and formal peer groups (fraternities and sororities).