Protective Influence of Residential Learning Communities

描述（由申请人提供）：大学生活安排代表了本科生经历的缩影，并作为校园文化影响学生个人的方式之一。尽管整个校园的饮酒规范，大学生活安排差异很大，可以鼓励或阻止酒精滥用。要求补助资金审查潜在的保护性影响，开拓性的住宅学习社区（RLC）在减少酒精滥用的一年级本科生使用纵向面板设计。RLC的开发是为了加强正式学习机会和学生生活环境之间的共同课程联系;然而，这些RLC也可能提供一个阻止酒精滥用的环境。拟议的目标样本将包括总共5，200名一年级本科生，他们住在RLC（n= 1，200）或传统霍尔斯（n= 4，000）。 本研究的具体目的是：（1）评估RLC中的一年级学生是否比传统霍尔斯中的一年级学生表现出更少的酒精滥用和更少的酒精相关后果;（2）纵向研究RLC可能影响酒精滥用和酒精相关后果的机制。特别是，该研究将调查RLC和减少酒精滥用和酒精相关问题之间的关系是否通过环境因素（例如室友的酒精使用）和/或个人特征（例如参与课外活动）进行操作;（3）确定从RLC中受益最多的学生亚组。RLC的特点（如单一性别）将通过考虑适当的分组和比较这些分组内的学生表现出减少酒精滥用和后果的程度进行检查。此外，通过研究这些潜在调节因子与RLC状态之间的相互作用，将个体特征（例如性别、种族）作为RLC效应的可能调节因子进行仔细检查。 与RFA AA-03-008下的研究获奖者和NIAAA工作人员合作，学生参与者将在三个时间点进行自我管理调查：（1）第一学期前新生定向期间的基线;（2）在第二学期的6个月随访期间;（3）在第二年的18个月随访期间。在每个测量点，参与者将完成一套评估物质使用行为和RLC解决的结构的措施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Collegiate living arrangements represent a microcosm of the undergraduate experience and act as one of the ways in which the culture of the campus influences the individual student. Despite the overall campus norms on drinking, collegiate living arrangements vary greatly and can either encourage or discourage alcohol misuse. Grant funds are requested to examine the potential protective influence of pioneering residential learning communities (RLCs) in reducing alcohol misuse among first-year undergraduate students using a longitudinal panel design. RLCs were developed to enhance the co-curricular connections between formal learning opportunities and students' living environment; however, these RLCs also may provide a milieu that discourages alcohol misuse. The proposed target sample will include a total of 5,200 first-year undergraduate students living in either RLCs (n= 1,200) or traditional residence halls (n=4,000). The specific aims of this study are: (1) To assess whether first-year students in RLCs exhibit less alcohol misuse and fewer alcohol-related consequences than first-year students in traditional residence halls; (2) To longitudinally examine the mechanisms by which RLCs may affect alcohol misuse and alcohol-related consequences. In particular, the study will investigate whether a relationship between RLCs and reduced alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems operates via environmental factors (e.g. alcohol use by roommates) and/or individual characteristics (e.g. involvement with co-curricular activities); and (3) To determine subgroups of students who benefit most from RLCs. Characteristics of RLCs (e.g. single sex) will be examined by considering appropriate groupings and comparing the degree to which students within these subgroups exhibit decreased alcohol misuse and consequences. Additionally, individual characteristics (e.g. gender, ethnicity) will be scrutinized as possible moderators of RLC effects, by studying interactions between these potential moderators and RLC status. In partnership with a research awardee under RFA AA-03-008 and NIAAA staff, student participants will self-administer a survey at three points in time: (1) baseline during freshmen orientation prior to the first academic semester; (2) during the second academic semester at 6-month follow-up; (3) during the second year at 18-month follow-up. At each measurement point, participants will complete a set of measures that assess substance use behaviors and constructs addressed by RLCs.