| Binge drinking among college students and its myriad health-risk consequences is of critical concern to health-care professionals working with college students across the nation. Normally defined as five or more drinks for males and four or more for females on one occasion, binge drinking remains one of the leading problems on college campuses despite the implementation of numerous programs designed to reduce this risky health behavior.;Using a conceptual framework for adolescent risk behavior based on Problem Behavior Theory (PBT), this study tested the constructs of this complex model, identifying environmental, personality and behavioral risk and protective factors as predictors of both binge drinking and health-risk consequences. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional design, this study used data from the spring 2008 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (American College Health Association, 2008) representing over 80,000 college students from 106 institutions.;Results from the structural equation models found that the constructs of Individual Differences and Behavior accounted for significant variance in the prediction of binge drinking and health-risk consequences in a national sample of college students. Results of the logistic regression model found significant risk and protective factors predicting binge drinking. Protective factors included residing in a parent's home while attending college, being in a committed relationship, reporting a low number of academic impediments, having a previous diagnosis of depression, reporting feelings of hopelessness, participating in volunteer activities and being employed Risk factors for binge drinking included Greek membership, having a high social norm perception of alcohol use on campus, being in an emotionally abusive relationship, smoking, and the use of marijuana, cocaine or other drugs.;This study addressed a health promotion topic of critical concern to nurses working with college students in a variety of healthcare settings. It utilized a complex and holistic approach to adolescent risk behavior focusing on the identification of specific risk and protective factors related to binge drinking and its subsequent health-risk consequences. The results of this study could lead to the development of more appropriate policies, preventive education programs, screening methods and interventions that focus specifically on these risk and protective factors. |
