Reasons for Living and Alcohol Use Among College Students

• Published in: Death studies Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 277 - 286
• Main Authors: Lamis, Dorian A., Ellis, Jon B., Chumney, Frances L., Dula, Chris S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.2009; Routledge; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adult; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Drinking; Alcohol use; At Risk Students; College Students; Coping; Drinking; Family Influence; Fear; Fear - psychology; Female; Health Behavior; Health technology assessment; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Moral Values; Morals; Reasons for Living Inventory; Responsibility; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Social Attitudes; Social Responsibility; Student Behavior; Students - psychology; Studies; Suicide; Suicide - prevention & control; Suicide - psychology; Suicides & suicide attempts; Survival - psychology; Undergraduate Students; United States; Young Adult; United States
• ISSN: 0748-1187; 1091-7683
• DOI: 10.1080/07481180802672017

Heavy alcohol consumption is prevalent on many college campuses and alcohol use has been linked to suicidal behavior. The present study examined reasons for living in 287 college students with varying levels of risk for alcohol-related problems. With the exception of the moral objections subscale of the Reasons for Living Inventory, significant relationships were not detected between alcohol use risk levels and reasons for living. The field is ripe for additional studies examining alcohol use and suicide in the college population, and results will likely lead to improved interventions to decrease the occurrence of suicidal behaviors.