Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost: Examining the Impact of Sojourner Adjustment and Drinking Motives on Alcohol Consequences Experienced by Americans Studying in Foreign Countries

Pedersen, Eric R.; Neighbors, Clayton; Lee, Christine M.; Larimer, Mary E.

doi:10.15288/jsad.2012.73.1005

Cited by 18 publications

(33 citation statements)

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“…Poor language proficiency predicted social difficulty and reduced sociocultural adjustment among foreign students (Ward & Kennedy, 1993b) and barriers to communication with local people are suggested to predict adjustment difficulty (Church, 1982;Dillion, 1993;Heikinheimo & Shute, 1986). For American study abroad students, the language development and use factor of the SAM had the strongest unique effect on prediction of fewer alcohol-related consequences while abroad (Pedersen et al, 2011d). Moreover, study abroad students in this same sample who reported drinking for more social facilitation reasons who also reported difficulties with language development and use experienced greater numbers of alcoholrelated consequences abroad.…”

Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Goals of enhanced cultural competency prior to departure associate with increased global understanding and cross-cultural skill development after study abroad trips (Kitsantas, 2004). Surprisingly, researchers found this factor to be predictive of increased rates of alcohol-related consequences abroad after controlling for the other three positive Sojourner Adjustment factors (Pedersen et al, 2011d). Nevertheless, cultural understanding has still been retained as a positive factor of Sojourner Adjustment.…”

Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In addition, students may be motivated to consume alcohol in order to initiate new friendships and relationships with peers; an effect possibly enhanced by one's desire to connect quickly with peers within the brief duration of the study abroad trip (i.e., about one to three months for the majority of students; IIE, 2011). Study abroad students with higher reported social reasons for drinking while abroad (e.g., "because it makes social gatherings more fun," "to be sociable") demonstrated heavier drinking behavior while abroad (Pedersen et al 2011d). Direct offers to drink alcohol may combine with the desire for peer connection to exacerbate risk while abroad.…”

Section: Social Influences On Drinking Behavior Abroadmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…reported drinking to the point of passing out, 15% missed a class due to drinking, 14% felt guilty or badly about themselves due to their drinking behavior, 11% found themselves in a dangerous situation they would not have been in if sober, and 9% reporting alcohol-related injuries (Pedersen, Neighbors, Lee, & Larimer, 2011d). Half of the sample drank enough on at least occasion to have a hangover the next day.…”

Section: Drinking and Related Consequences Among American Students Abmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While American study abroad students reported more desire for contact with host nationals than they actually achieved while abroad (Pitts, 2009), those who made active attempts to socialize and connect with host nationals (e.g., by living with a host family, by going out and meeting local people) reported greater immersion into the culture (Monalco, 2002). Regarding protection from drinking risk, increased interaction with local people has been documented to predict fewer alcohol-related problems for American study abroad students (Pedersen et al, 2011d). Less social interaction with local people predicted more problems resulting from alcohol use.…”

Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad

Pedersen

Larimer

Atkins

et al. 2014

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad Eric R. Pedersen Chair of the Supervisory Committee:Professor Mary E. Larimer PsychologyResearch documents increased and problematic alcohol use during study abroad experiences for college students. In addition, study abroad students may be a self-selecting subgroup of students who drink at greater rates and experience more consequences than non-study abroad students both prior to and after trips. Despite increasing numbers of students studying abroad each year and growing concerns about this high-risk event, there is limited research available documenting efficacious preventive programs with these students. Previous work suggests perceptions of study abroad peer drinking and host country native adult drinking are risk factors for increased alcohol use while abroad, while components related to positive Sojourner Adjustment (i.e., the process of positive and healthy adjustment among individuals establishing temporary residencies in new cultures) may protect against problematic use. Employing a 2 x 2 longitudinal randomized intervention design with an assessment only control condition, the present study sought to prevent increased and problematic alcohol use by correcting misperceptions of study abroad student and host country native drinking norms and by promoting positive and healthy adjustment into the host culture through brief online personalized feedback interventions. A sample of 343 study abroad students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions including a personalized normative feedback intervention (PNF) only, a Sojourner Adjustment feedback intervention (SAF), a combined PNF + SAF intervention, and an assessment only control condition. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that, contrary to hypotheses, participants in the SAF intervention condition increased their drinking during the first month abroad compared to control. This effect was mediated by decreases in perceived abstinence rates. In contrast, SAF and PNF participants reported reduced alcohol-related consequences compared to control participants during the last month abroad. Participants who studied in Europe and who reported higher pre-departure social reasons for drinking appeared to benefit most from the PNF intervention during the last month abroad. The interventions including SAF content appeared to work best for participants with higher coping reasons for drinking. This research represents an important first step in designing and implementing efficacious interventions with at-risk study abroad college students using online methodologies with normative information and Sojourner Adjustment content.

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Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Social Influences On Drinking Behavior Abroadmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Drinking and Related Consequences Among American Students Abmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Adjustment/transition To Life In a Foreign Environment --Sojmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad

Pedersen

Larimer

Atkins

et al. 2014

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Self Cite

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show abstract

Students’ Alcohol Use, Sexual Behaviors, and Contraceptive Use While Studying Abroad

2018

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College study abroad students may represent a subgroup at risk for increased alcohol use and sexual activity while traveling. The present study explored student's alcohol use, sexual activity, and the interrelationship between the two while abroad. A sample of 372 students (M abroad = 20, SD = 3.3, 68% women) who had traveled abroad in the past 3 years were recruited from a large, southern university. Students completed an online survey of demographics, alcohol use, sexual behaviors, and contraceptive use. Students reported consuming an average of six drinks in one sitting, and 76% of women and men met criteria for 'hazardous drinking' while abroad. Students who met criteria for 'hazardous drinking' were more likely to engage in sexual activity; however, they also had a greater likelihood of wearing a condom. Our findings show students engage in problematic drinking and this is related to their engagement in sexual activity while abroad. Findings extend previous research and suggest study abroad programs should address norms around drinking and sexual activity prior to travel to ensure students' safety while abroad.

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Alcohol and Sexual Risk among American College Students Studying Abroad

et al. 2020

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Recent studies show that during study abroad experiences, college students greatly increase their drinking behavior, experience multiple alcohol-related consequences, engage in sexual risk behaviors, and are at-risk for sexual violence victimization. These studies, however, have been limited by small sample sizes of students from single institutions who are often studying in a particular country or region. To better understand the extent of the risks experienced by college students studying abroad, we conducted a longitudinal survey study of 2,630 students from 65 different U.S. colleges and universities studying in 12 diverse locations abroad. Total drinks per week and heavy drinking days more than doubled while students were abroad, with heavier predeparture drinkers, men, and students under age 21 experiencing the greatest increases. There were few observed overall changes in alcohol-related consequences and risky sexual behaviors; however, specific groups, such as those with heavier predeparture consequences and sexual risk behaviors, men, and those on longer abroad programs reported greater consequences and risky sex abroad. One in five students (21%) experienced sexual violence abroad, with non-consensual physical contact the most prevalent form. Women, those under age 21, and those with a history of sexual violence were most likely to experience sexual violence abroad. Findings indicate that Terms of use and reuse: academic research for non-commercial purposes, see here for full terms. http://www.springer.com/gb/openaccess/authors-rights/aam-terms-v1 *

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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost: Examining the Impact of Sojourner Adjustment and Drinking Motives on Alcohol Consequences Experienced by Americans Studying in Foreign Countries

Cited by 18 publications

References 50 publications

Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad

Brief online interventions targeting risk and protective factors for increased and problematic alcohol use among American college students studying abroad

Students’ Alcohol Use, Sexual Behaviors, and Contraceptive Use While Studying Abroad

Alcohol and Sexual Risk among American College Students Studying Abroad

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