‘Maturing Out’ as dilemmatic: Transitions towards relatively light drinking practices among UK University students

Dominic Conroy, Charlotte Morton, Christine Griffin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Objectives: University students in the UK engage in relatively high alcohol consumption levels, yet young adults, including students, now drink less than previously and abstain more. Against this cultural backdrop, our objective was to further understanding of ‘maturing out’ of excessive drinking practices among students by focusing on drinking transitions that had taken place during university years. Design: A qualitative interview study. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten 18- to 27-year-old UK undergraduate university students who self-identified as light or non-drinkers. Interviews were audio-recorded, and anonymized interview transcripts were subjected to an experience-focused application of thematic analysis. Results: Participants reported dilemmas involved in transitions from relatively high to low levels of alcohol consumption. One dilemma was characterized by managing to drink less (or nothing) without cutting off social options with university friends/peers. A second dilemma concerned not wishing to fully abandon the pleasures and increased social confidence that alcohol consumption could afford. Results also demonstrated that self-reported drinking could contradict participants’ self-defined ‘light drinker’ status. Conclusions: This study reinforces the view that ‘maturing out’ involves more than simply having gained new responsibilities during young adulthood. Recognition of these dilemmatic features of drinking transitions could be drawn on in novel campus-based interventions. Such interventions may help strengthen realistic and sustainable moderate drinking by guiding students to anticipate potential difficulties involved in planned reductions in personal drinking but may also help foster students’ ability to view drinking choices as in transition rather than as permanent and enduring.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)902-916
Number of pages15
JournalBritish Journal of Health Psychology
Volume26
Issue number3
Early online date16 Feb 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. British Journal of Health Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • alcohol
  • students
  • thematic analysis
  • universities
  • young adults

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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