Predictors of Alcohol Consumption in University Residences‪.‬

Dear Editor: Alcohol use on university campuses is a significant social problem that has prompted a considerable amount of research (Lo, 1991; Peeler, Far, Miller, & Brigham, 2000). In general, it is thought that the use of alcohol is affected by personal characteristics, social environment, and/or situational factors (Kairouz, Gliksman, Demers, & Adlaf, 2002; Lo, 1991). More specifically, Goodwin (1990) suggested that the amount of alcohol consumed by students is influenced by the social behavior and drinking habits of those who share their environment. According to Knee and Neighbors (2002), individuals most affected by a desire to attain peer acceptance and social approval are those who feel less self-determined and more extrinsically motivated. In other words, those who feel a greater need to be a part of their environment are more apt to engage in the behaviors exhibited by those around them, such as alcohol consumption. This is especially true of young university students, many of who are living away from their parents for the first time. To add to the complexity of this issue, situational factors, such as academic pressure and involvement in extracurricular activities, can also have an affect on students' alcohol consumption (Lo, 1991).