Alcohol consumption in higher education students: analysis of social networks of university Friends

Abstract

Objective: Identify associations between networks of friends (density of the network of friends, behavior of friends, popularity and friend clusters), and alcohol-related behaviors in college students. Methods: Cross-sectional association study. Sociodemographic measurements (sex, age, socioeconomic level, family structure), excessive and risky alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption and variables of the social network were applied. Using logistic regression, O and confidence intervals are estimated. Results: Of the variables of the social network in women, the density of the network was associated with risky alcohol consumption, belonging to the Biology program, high socioeconomic status and having a single-parent family structure are factors that use risky alcohol consumption. In men, the number of friends with risky alcohol consumption increases, having a single-parent family structure and being a smoker, were associated with risky alcohol consumption. Regarding excessive alcohol consumption in women, an association was found with the number of friends with excessive alcohol consumption and belonging to the Biology program. Conclusions: The risky and excessive consumption of alcohol is associated with the social network of friends and is different by sex. The social network of university friends is a means in which unhealthy behaviors are shared, which suggests the importance of investigating the subject as an element that can help combat chronic non-communicable diseases, this would help define renewed perspectives of promotion of health in university students.