Peer Observation In College Students

4. Peer Observation The collegiate years of a student are crucial to their total learning experience because they correspond with an increased freedom and independence, which also include feelings of discomfort or uncertainty (Botvin, 2007). Moreover, college students often possess a lack of an authoritative figure by which they attempt to model. Before the collegiate years, students observed their parents or other authoritative figures, such as their teachers, coaches, older siblings, etc.… Nevertheless, research has exemplified that because of the unique conditions of the university environment, college students are more likely to observe and mirror the behavior of their fellow peers (Borsari, 2001). Peers become increasingly important

An individual who sees their peer group as favorably inclined toward substance use is typically motivated to use alcohol and drugs as a means of gaining social acceptance (Perkins, 1985). By way of contrast, those who belong to groups who are not favorable toward substance use will most likely be dissuaded from using alcohol and drugs because of implied and real sanctions that accompany that behavior (Perkins, 1985). During late adolescence and young adulthood, normative beliefs are strong predictors of alcohol and substance use (Perkins, 1985). Moreover, normative beliefs concerning a student’s friends are stronger predictors of substance use than are students’ normative beliefs about any other peers (Perkins,

A national study conducted from 1989-1991 examined 58, 625 student participants from 56 four-year institutions and 22 two-year institutions (Presely, 1993). The research revealed that in four-year institutions, only 1 in 10 students consumed 16 or more drinks per week (Presley, 1993). Moreover, a large portion of the participants, more than one-third, preferred an alcohol-free environment, and 87 percent preferred a drug-free environment (Presley, 1993). In addition, the study found that at both two and four-year institutions, the heaviest drinkers obtained the lowest grades (Presley, 1993). What this research revealed was that there is a minority, problem group that is responsible for the abuse and that the majority of university students prefer a drug-free