Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 135–138, 1999 Copyright © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd Printed in the USA. All rights reserved 0306-4603/99/$–see front matter PII S0306-4603(98)00053-7 135 Pergamon BRIEF REPORT SITUATIONAL DETERMINANTS OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG CAUCASIAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS MIGUEL J. HUMARA and MARTIN F. SHERMAN Loyola College Abstract — The present study examined gender, race, and binge status differences in alcohol consumption among Caucasian and African-American college students as well as situational differences as qualified by the race of binge drinkers. A confidential questionnaire was volun- tarily completed by Caucasians (n = 102) and African-Americans (n = 81) at a medium-sized regional university. The data analysis revealed a significant gender effect on alcohol consump- tion, with men consuming more alcohol than women. There was no significant main effect of race on alcohol consumption. In addition, Caucasian binge drinkers had significantly higher interpersonal problem behavior scores than did binge-drinking African-Americans, and binge-drinking African-Americans had higher intrapersonal problem behavior scores than did binge-drinking Caucasians. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd Alcohol is the most widely used and abused mood-altering substance in the United States. So widespread is this problem, that alcohol abuse and dependence are three times as numerous as all other substance abuse problems combined (Myers et al., 1984). Research with college students shows the magnitude of the binge-drinking problem that has arisen on campus. The results of one study showed that 50% of men and 39% of women college students had engaged in binge-drinking behavior in the 2 weeks prior to the gathering of data (Wechsler, Dowdall, Davenport, & Castillo, 1995). If prevention and treatment programs are to be effective, factors contributing to the development of alcohol disorders need to be examined. The focus of the current study was to examine gender, race, and binge-status differences in alcohol consump- tion as well as situational differences between Caucasians and African-Americans. Based upon a review of the current literature, three major hypotheses were exam- ined. First, men would report consuming more alcohol than would women. Second, Caucasians would report consuming more alcohol than would African-Americans. Fi- nally, an interaction effect was expected between race and problem situations (Intra- personal: unpleasant emotions, physical discomfort, pleasant emotions, testing per- sonal control and urges or temptations to drink vs. Interpersonal: conflict with others, social pressure to drink and pleasant times with others) among binge drinkers, such that Caucasian college student bingers would have higher interpersonal problem be- havior scores than would African-American bingers, and African-American bingers would have higher intrapersonal problem behavior scores than would Caucasian bin- gers. This prediction was based on Cooper, Russell, Skinner, and Windle’s (1992) re- sults that suggested Caucasian individuals may be more likely to drink as a result of Portions of this research were presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Convention, Washington, DC, April 1997. Requests for reprints should be sent to Martin F. Sherman, Department of Psychology, Loyola College, 4501 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210-2699; E-mail: MFS@LOYOLA.EDU