"...college students who attended religious services were less likely to use alcohol than those who did not attend religious services."

J Relig Health. 2016 Feb 25. [Epub ahead of print]

Assessing Whether Religious Behaviors and Positive and Negative Affect are Associated with Alcohol Use and Abuse Among a Sample of College Students Living in the Midwest.

Carmack CC1, Lewis RK2.

Author information

• 1Department of Psychological, Health and Learning Sciences, College of Education, University of Houston, 491 Farrish Hall, Houston, TX, 77204, USA. ccarmack@central.uh.edu.
• 2Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount, Box 34, Wichita, KS, 67260, USA. rhonda.lewis@wichita.edu.

Abstract

Alcohol use and abuse are a problem on college campuses. Religious behaviors (religious attendance, prayer, and importance) have been shown to be a protective factor against alcohol use among college students. This study examined the role religious behaviors and positive and negative affect had on drinking (alcohol use and alcohol to intoxication). College students (765) completed an online survey. The results showed that college students who attended religious services were less likely to use alcohol than those who did not attend religious services. The results have important implications for college administrators and policy makers. Limitations and future research will be discussed.