Alcoholism and Gender

Heavy drinking among college students is a serious public health concern as it can increase the likelihood of negative alcohol-related consequences. While many researchers have investigated the factors that place particular students at risk for heavy drinking, only a few studies have considered how gender norms, or the expectations, beliefs, and attitudes associated with being a man or a woman, influence alcohol use. This entry examines how adherence to particular masculine and feminine norms may affect the drinking behaviors of college-age men and women by either increasing or decreasing the risk.

Prevalence Rates

Heavy drinking is generally most common in college settings, with prevalence rates of alcohol consumption substantially higher for young adult college students than for non-college-attending peers. Approximately 80% of college students drink, with ...

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