Campus Location

Abilene Campus (Residential)

Date of Award

Spring 5-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Social Work

Degree Name

Master of Science

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Dr. Thomas L. Winter

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

Dr. Kyeonghee Jang

Third Committee Member or Committee Reader

Steve Rowlands, MMFT, LMFT, LPC

Abstract

As the misuse of alcohol among college students remains a public health concern in the United States, students are participating in problematic drinking for various reasons. Loneliness and stress have both been associated with the reasoning behind why some college students participate in heavy drinking. Studies show that students who perceive themselves as under a lot of stress tend to drink more and that students who feel they need to overcome structural and emotional barriers such as loneliness and shyness, use alcohol as a resource. This paper examines the relationship between alcohol consumption, loneliness, and stress. Sixteen students, who attended Abilene Christian University and participated in the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS), completed three scales to assess their alcohol use, perceived loneliness, and perceived stress. Results indicated that loneliness was not significantly associated with binge drinking, that stress was not significantly associated with binge drinking, and that males did not consume more alcohol, experience more loneliness or more stress than females. Although statistical significance was not found, it was determined that clinical significance was present.

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