Racial/Ethnic differences in the association between college attendance and heavy alcohol use: a national study.

Objective: This study examined racial/ethnic differences in the association between college attendance and heavy alcohol use and factors that may underlie this relationship.

Method: Interview data collected from 12,993 young adults who participated in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were analyzed to determine if 4- or 2-year college status is differentially associated with heavy alcohol use for five racial/ethnic groups (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Other) and to assess the explanatory value of selected social and psychological factors.

Results: Four-year college status was positively associated with heavy alcohol use among white young adults but inversely related to heavy drinking among blacks and Asians. Two-year college status also was inversely associated with heavy drinking among blacks, Hispanics and Others. Among whites, the association between 4-year college attendance and heavy drinking was partially explained by living away from parents, friends' heavy drinking and time socializing with friends. Among blacks, the inverse relationship between college attendance and heavy alcohol use was partially explained by lower levels of friends' heavy drinking, depression and delinquency. Friends' heavy drinking also partially explained observed relationships between college attendance and heavy drinking among Asians and Others.

Conclusions: Four-year college attendance increases the likelihood of heavy alcohol use among white young adults but may decrease the likelihood of heavy drinking among blacks and Asians. Two-year college attendance also may reduce the risk for heavy drinking among blacks, Hispanics and young adults who are Native American or multi-ethnic. Social and psychological factors partly explain these relationships and also differ for racial/ethnic groups.