Profession of Faith...or Not: Religious Affiliation and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Students

Research has shown a protective relationship between religion and risky health behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine the difference in alcohol-related problems (ARP) experienced by college students who self-identified as religious or non-religious.  Religious students also identified if their religious affiliation discouraged (Religious & Alcohol Use Discouraged [RAUD]) or did not discourage alcohol use (Religious & Alcohol Use Not Discourage [RAUND]). The researchers administered a paper-and-pencil health survey in a classroom setting to 910 undergraduate students at a large, public university in the southeastern US. A one-way ANOVA was used to determine differences in the ARP summary scores of current drinkers based on religious influence.  ARP significantly differed across the three religious influence groups, F(2,732)=4.77;p=.009.  Bonferroni post hoc tests reveal when alcohol use was discouraged by religious affiliation, ARP scores were significantly lower (m=9.31,s.d.=9.33) than the other two groups (RAUND: m=11.67,s.d.=10.59 and non-religious: m=11.81,s.d.=11.16); however, there was no significant difference between ARP scores of RAUND and non-religious individuals.  Those who identified that their religious affiliation discouraged alcohol use experienced fewer alcohol-related problems compared to other respondents.  The perceived influence of religion could be considered when creating alcohol risk reduction programs among college students.  This unique method to examine perceived religious influence on a specific health behavior should be further explored to examine perceived approval/disapproval of behavior on a continuum rather than as a dichotomous variable.