According to a national survey, almost 53% of full-time college students ages 18 to 22 drank alcohol in the past month and about 33% engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame. Unhealthy drinking habits are on a rise and despite the efforts implemented by schools, just under 2,000 college students die a year from unintentional alcohol-related injuries. Figuring out what leads students to binge drinking is crucial to finding a preventive solution to college student drinking rates. This study is focused on finding the relationship between sensory input during the drinking event and drinking patterns in college students. It is established that sensory properties influence food choices and behaviors, “a food sensory appeal is largely determined by the physical and chemical properties that are sensed before and during consumption, which informs initial acceptance and the degree to which a food will be consumed”. There is a gap in the literature about how sensory intake impacts alcohol choices, habits, and blackout (alcohol-induced amnesia) tendencies. By breaking down certain aspects of a person’s environment, it may be possible to find a connection between individual senses and drinking habits. This study collects data from college students at a midsized, midwestern college through an online survey called the Student Health Survey. The data will be qualitative, asking students about a recent heavy drinking experience, and surveying them about the senses they remember experiencing. This data will also be compared to questions about their drinking habits such as how often and to what extent they drink alcohol. Responses will review each sense individually to see what is most mentioned. The expected findings are that people experiencing specific sensory inputs also have heavier drinking habits and are more prone to blacking out. This study is important to understand how impactful sensory input is on drinking choices and health.
Author(s): Angelina Fichtner, Psychology and Kinesiology Major
Advisor(s): Rose Marie Ward, Department of Psychology
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