The dramatic increase in alcohol misuse by underage (18-19) young adult women in the past few decades signals a growing similarity of alcohol use patterns and behaviors to men. Alcohol use among Asian American women, in particular, has been escalating at an alarmingly high rate over the past decade. This presents an emerging public health concern as women often experience alcohol-related problems disproportionate to men’s level of use. Therefore, it is essential to understand the gender-relevant factors that contribute to this rise in alcohol use among Asian American women. Feminine norms, or the beliefs and expectations of how women should think, feel, and act, represent one factor that may better explain within-group variability in risky drinking behaviors among women. Accordingly, the aims of the study are to develop a more nuanced understanding of key theoretically-driven feminine norms on prospective alcohol misuse and related problems and to test the specificity of this model with Asian Americans and Caucasians by examining racial differences in predictors and patterns of alcohol misuse.

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Specifically, this longitudinal study collected data on Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED), drinking games, substance use, risky sexual behavior, and personality variables, at three different time points (beginning of Freshman year, end of Freshman year, and beginning of Sophomore year). Using latent class analysis, we were able to identify three distinct drinking trajectories with our data: (1) High-risk drinkers (2) Monthly drinkers, and (3) Non-binge drinkers.

 

With these trajectories in mind, we conceptualized a follow-up study, in which we are interviewing women who fall within these three classes, to gain a richer understanding of the underlying factors associated with various drinking patterns.