The influence of pre-college behaviors and parenting practices on alcohol misuse, sexual risk-taking, and adverse outcomes among first-year college women

Abstract

Objective

Although numerous reports document college students’ risk-taking behaviors, few examine these behaviors in a developmental context. The purpose of this study was to examine female freshmen college students’ pre-college experiences and parenting influences on first semester experiences with alcohol misuse, sexual risk-taking, and adverse outcomes, including violence.

Methods

We surveyed 229 female freshman residential college students at the end of their first semester in college.

Results

Participants who drank frequently in high school were more likely to binge drink in college and regret doing something while drinking. Mother–daughter closeness and parental discussions of sexual risks, personal safety and danger avoidance were associated with a reduced likelihood of regretting doing something while drinking, experiencing sexual violence, and having sex without a condom. Parental provision of alcohol was associated with alcohol misuse.

Conclusion

These findings provide a life course perspective on the development of risk behaviors and adverse outcomes during emerging adulthood.

Keywords:

• Binge drinking
• intimate partner violence
• parenting
• risky sexual behavior
• sexual violence

Conflict of interest disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. The authors confirm that the research presented in this article met the ethical guidelines, including adherence to the legal requirements, of United States of America and received approval from the Boston College IRB.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was used to support this research and/or the preparation of the manuscript.