Alcohol Use and Participation in Organized Recreational Sports Among University Undergraduates
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined alcohol use among students involved in recreational sports. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of alcohol use in which researchers separate recreational sports participants from intercollegiate athletes and examine them as a separate group of interest. PARTICIPANTS: The authors generated a random sample of 494 students from the undergraduate population at a 4-year university. METHODS: They used a Web-based survey to collect data and stratified and weighted the sample by residence status to more accurately reflect the population. RESULTS: Students who participated in recreational sports used alcohol at a greater frequency and intensity than did those who were not involved in recreational sports across a variety of measures, even alongside other variables, including race, sex, and Greek membership. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these findings, alcohol consumption among those participating in recreational sports appears to be an area worthy of consideration in future research.
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White men involved in fraternities and/or organized sports were more likely to consume alcohol with greater frequency and intensity than the general student population.
“In general, the researchers found White men involved in fraternities and/or organized sports were more likely to consume alcohol with greater frequency and intensity than the general student population.”
From The Influence of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement: A Critical Analysis of Research (1996–2013) (2014) · cites this paper as Ward and Gryczynski (2007)
ORSPs were comparable to fraternity/sorority members on average number of drinks consumed in a day and average number consumed in a week; however, fraternity/sorority members were higher on average drinks per month, problematic alcohol abuse, and classification as a heavy drinker.
“Results showed ORSPs were comparable to fraternity/sorority members on average number of drinks consumed in a day and average number consumed in a week; however, fraternity/sorority members were higher on average drinks per month, problematic alcohol abuse (ORSPs were not significant), and classification as a heavy drinker.”
From The Influence of Fraternity and Sorority Involvement: A Critical Analysis of Research (1996–2013) (2014) · cites this paper as Ward and Gryczynski (2007)
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- Authors
- Ward, B. W., & Gryczynski, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- Friends Research Institute (US)
- Venue
- Journal of American College Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-11
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 273-280
- ISSN
- 0164-4300 (ISSN-L)
- 0744-8481
- 1940-3208
- OpenAlex
- W2033652414
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of American College Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health and Lifestyle Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
- Keywords
- alcohol consumption, recreational sports, organized sports participation, university students, undergraduate students, drinking frequency, drinking intensity, intercollegiate athletes, Greek life, race and sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, Female, Humans, Male, Sports, Students, United States, Universities, Racial Groups
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