Factors related to alcohol drinking behavior of university students

Abstract

The research aims to study factors related to alcohol drinking behavior of university students. A sample size of 221 students were included.  Data analysis include percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square.

The results showed that majority of the sample was female with 75.6%, 60.6% of the sample was at 21 years old, 24.4% were in 4^th year, 46.2% had GPA between 2.51-3.00, 65.6% lived alone, 34.8% were engaged in leisure activities by watching movies, 64.7% had monthly income between 5,000-10,000 baht, 3.6% had chronic diseases. The samples were knowledgeable and perceived results of drinking alcohol at high level (78.3%), 82.8% had moderate level of attitudes, 44.3% had low level of drinking behaviors, 43.0% had a high level of access to retail stores and opportunity to drink, 51.1% had a high level of drinking behavior of family members and friends, and 93.2% had a high level of alcohol drinking behavior prevention policy perception.  Correlation analysis indicated that education level, residence/accommodation, leisure activities, income, knowledge, attitudes, access to alcohol sales and drinking opportunities, drinking behaviors of family members and friends had a statistical significant with alcohol drinking behavior of university students at the level of 0.05. This study suggests that education institutions and health organizations should focus on promoting activities, adjusting attitudes, and incorporating into alcohol drinking prevention policies, providing knowledge on alcohol control laws, and encouraging students to have good personal values by staying away from alcohol.