Social Anxiety, Binge Drinking, and Social Support on College Campuses
Open Access
Author:
Littlefield, Chad Michael
Area of Honors:
Rehabilitation and Human Services
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Jeffrey A. Hayes, Ph.D., Thesis Supervisor Dr. Brandon Hunt, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
social anxiety social support binge drinking relationships
Abstract:
This research examined the role that social support plays in mediating the relationship between social anxiety and binge drinking among college students. Participants (N = 30,227) completed measures of social anxiety, binge drinking frequency, and social support. Previous research was supported in that there was a strong positive relationship found between social anxiety and binge drinking frequency. A weak, negative relationship was found between social anxiety and social support. No relationship was found between social support and binge drinking. No relationship was found between social support and binge drinking. The present study extends the current body of research by looking at these variables in a large college population. Results suggest that many variables are involved in the social anxiety and binge drinking relationship. Simply building up social support networks as an intervention for students who are socially anxious is not enough to curb the immense college drinking problem.
