Parental Divorce and the Change in Drinking Behavior from High School to College

Abstract

192 men and 289 women (college students) provided information about their drinking behavior both currently and in their senior year in high school. These data were analyzed by students' sex and family structure. Currently men drank significantly more than women. No differences for family structure were noted. Students from divorced families drank less currently, while students from intact families drank more currently than they did as seniors in high school. This was true for more men than women. Results support the position that current drinking behavior may be associated with a decrease in parental or adult supervision which is experienced earlier for those whose parents have divorced and later (upon entering college) for those students whose parents have not divorced.