How estimation of drinking influences alcohol-related consequences across the first year of college

A Qualitative Examination of the Sexual Possible Selves and Strategies of First-Semester College Students: How Sexual Possible Selves are Developed During the Transition to College

According to the possible selves theory, individuals have possible selves that they hope to attain, or feared selves they hope to avoid, in the proximal future. In addition, individuals may have strategies they use to help them attain these possible selves or avoid their feared selves. Recent work has applied this theory to the realm of sexuality (i.e., sexual possible selves; SPS) in the developmental period of emerging adulthood, as this period is considered a time of increased sexual identity development. The purpose of this study was to extend this research by conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews with a sample of first-semester college-attending emerging adults (N = 35) at a 4-year university. We examined the developmental influences on expected and feared SPS to better understand why various internalized expectations develop. Interviews were conducted during the first four weeks of the Fall 2016 semester and were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Prominent themes that emerged within the expected SPS included: sex and commitment, taking a passive approach, delaying sex and relationships, plans for hooking up, and abstinence. Feared SPS themes that emerged included: non-committed sexual avoidance, sexual assault/coercion, reputation, and sexual health. Prominent influences on participants' SPS included: family, alcohol and parties, peers/friends, past experiences, changes in expectations, college culture, and religion. Implications for sexuality research, education, and intervention are discussed.

EFEITO DAS VARIÁVEIS SOCIODEMOGRÁFICAS E DE VULNERABILIDADE NO PADRÃO DE USO DE ÁLCOOL EM MULHERES UNIVERSITÁRIAS

RESUMO Objetivo: determinar o efeito das variáveis sociodemográficas e de vulnerabilidade no uso de bebidas alcoólicas em mulheres universitárias. Método: estudo transversal, composto por uma amostra de 301 mulheres universitárias. Os dados sociodemográficos e de vulnerabilidade ao consumo foram obtidos pelos formulários eletrônicos CAGE, AUDIT-C, questionário sociodemográfico e de vulnerabilidade ao uso de álcool. Para análise dos dados foram usados o teste qui-quadrado e a regressão logística. Resultados: 80,4% das mulheres apresentaram uso moderado e 19,6 %, uso nocivo de álcool. As variáveis que mostraram ter efeito sobre o padrão de uso foram: idade de início do consumo, nível socioeconômico, tipo de bebida e redes sociais. Conclusão: os fatores de vulnerabilidade, preferência por bebidas alcoólicas destiladas, ter redes sociais que promovem o consumo, ter iniciado o uso entre 14 e 16 anos de idade são características que podem favorecer o consumo nocivo de álcool.