Generational Status, Sexual Behavior, and Alcohol Use Among College Students

The study examined the differences between first-generation college students and non-first-generation college students in sexual behavior and alcohol use. Examinations between how first-generation and non-first-generation college students have focused primarily on how they differ academically in college, while sexual behaviors and alcohol use has not been the focus in past literature. A total of 441 college students who enrolled in a general psychology course at a northwestern university took an online questionnaire comprised of various questions referring to sexual behavior and alcohol use. The sample for the study had an even fifty percent split between firstgeneration and non-first-generation college students. Results showed that there were a few differences in sexual behavior and risky sexual behavior between the generational status. There were some differences between white and non-white students and within each gender when referring to sexual behavior and alcohol use. These findings suggest that generational status does not have a strong influence on whether college students engage in sexual behaviors and that other factors should be examined when looking at both sexual and alcohol behaviors. Generational Status, Sexual Behavior and Alcohol Use among College Engaging in risky behaviors has been related to college students performing poorly in their academics (Cyder, Flory, Rainer, & Smith, 2009). An example of this is when college students drink alcohol in excess, especially during their first year in college (Cyders et al., 2009). An argument can be made that college students will either succeed or fail in college based on how disciplined they are outside of the classroom. For example, college students who know how to balance their academic lives with their social lives are known for performing very well in college (Ramos-Sanchez & Nichols, 2007). Sadly, first-generation college students are known for struggling the most when it comes to college adaptation (Ishitani, 2003; McCarron & Inkelas, 2006). Given this, it is likely that there is a connection between first-generation college students drinking more alcohol, having premarital sex, and engaging in more risky sexual behaviors compared to non-first-generation students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine if there were any differences between generational statuses and their engagement in drinking alcohol or sexual behavior. First-generation college students are classified as individuals who do not have a parent with at least a bachelor’s degree in college, while a non-first-generation college student has at least one parent with a bachelor’s degree or beyond (Ramos-Sanchez & Nichols, 2007). Research suggests that first-generation college students are low on self-efficacy compared to non-first-generation students since first-generation college students lack the resource of parental guidance at the collegiate level (Alessandria & Nelson, 2005; Majer, 2009; Ramos-Sanchez & Nichols, 2007). Students who have good communication with their parents tend to perform better academically (McCarron & Inkelas, 2006; Strage & Brandt, 1999; Wintre & Yaffe, 2000). The majority of first-generation college students come from minority families who have come to the United States in search of a more prosperous life than that of their country of origin (Ojeda, Navarro, & Flores, 2011). Also, Ojeda et al. (2011) found that, overall, only 6% of Mexican Americans graduate college. This statistic shows a high rate of college drop-outs based on ethnicity, specifically Latinos in this case, and how that could possibly mean that first-generation college students are at a disadvantage when attending college. In another study, Ishitani (2006) found that first-generation college students drop-out more often than non-first-generation college students. Reasons for higher dropout rates among these groups potentially include a lack support from family and friends and a lack of monetary resources at their disposal, which could lead to great pressures while attending college (Ishitani, 2003).