Problematic drinking among college students: The role of impulsivity and resistance to change

A major public health problem facing American colleges is the heavy and abusive use of alcohol by the student body with dire outcomes on academic achievement, self-fulfillment, and long-term health. This study investigated the relationship of impulsivity and readiness to change in problem drinking behavior among college students attending a 4-year college institution. The theoretical formulation for this study was based on Prochaska and DiClemente's model of change. Three instruments were utilized in this study: the Student Alcohol Questionnaire (SAQ), Barratt's Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), and the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ). The sample comprised 248 undergraduate college students aged 18 to 20 years from a state-supported university in a southern state. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 14.0 for frequency analysis of demographics and ANCOVA. The drinking levels reported by the participants predicted impulsivity and readiness to change. The results showed that the participants had divergent impulsivity relative to readiness to change and reported levels of drinking. The findings supported the view that focusing on the needs of individual students is paramount for the development of alcohol prevention and intervention programs on college campuses. The benefits of contemporary programs that are based on theoretical models of intervention and the individual needs of students are discussed and recommended. The study findings may translate to the vast concern of alcohol abuse in humanity at large, thus contributing to societal change. This study results can guide treatment programs to help eliminate the physical and emotional toll on students, families and society at large.