Protective Influence of Residential Learning Communities

描述(由申请人提供)：大学生活安排代表着本科生经历的一个缩影，也是校园文化影响学生个人的方式之一。尽管校园对饮酒有总体的规范，但大学的生活安排差异很大，既可以鼓励也可以阻止酗酒。请拨助学金，以研究先锋住宿学习社区(RLC)在减少一年级本科生酒精滥用方面的潜在保护影响，采用纵向小组设计。RLCs旨在加强正规学习机会与学生生活环境之间的共同课程联系；然而，这些RLCs也可能提供一个阻止酗酒的环境。拟议的目标样本将包括总共5,200名住在寄宿中心(n=1,200)或传统寄宿宿舍(n=4,000)的一年级本科生。 本研究的具体目的是：(1)评估RLC的一年级学生是否比传统宿舍的一年级学生表现出更少的酒精滥用和与酒精相关的后果；(2)纵向考察RLC可能影响酒精滥用和与酒精相关的后果的机制。这项研究特别会探讨社区学习中心与减少酗酒和酒精相关问题之间的关系，是否透过环境因素(例如室友饮酒)和/或个人特质(例如参与共同课程活动)；及(3)确定从社区学习中心受惠最多的学生组别。将通过考虑适当的分组和比较这些分组中的学生表现出减少酒精滥用和后果的程度来检查RLC的特征(例如，单一性别)。此外，将通过研究这些潜在的调节者与RLC状态之间的相互作用，将个人特征(例如，性别、种族)作为RLC效应的可能调节因素进行仔细研究。 在RFA AA-03-008和NIAAA工作人员的合作下，学生参与者将在三个时间点自行进行调查：(1)第一学期前新生入门时的基线；(2)第二学期期间6个月的跟踪；(3)第二年18个月的跟踪。在每个测量点，参与者将完成一套评估RLC解决的物质使用行为和结构的测量。

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.