Binge-drinking students happier and more accepted than others: study - Polidicks

[quote] A study released on Aug. 20, 2012, suggests binge drinking has social benefits for college-age students. (Jean-Pierre … Researchers completing a new study on alcohol consumption have discovered that college-age students who binge drink are happier than those who don't. Those who engaged in binge drinking tend to belong to so-called high-status groups: wealthy, white, male and active in fraternity life. And those who did not belong to the high-status groups could achieve similar levels of social acceptance through the act of binge drinking. In fact, the study results suggest that students engaged in the heavy drinking practice to elevate their social status amongst peers rather than to alleviate depression or anxiety. "The present study offers another insight into the nature of a seemingly intractable social problem," the study released on Monday reads. "It is our hope that by drawing attention to the important social motivations underlying binge drinking, institutional administrators and public health professionals will be able to design and implement programs for students that take into account the full range of reasons that students binge drink." The Washington Post reports that the study's co-author and Colgate University associate professor Carolyn Hsu presented some of the findings during the American Sociological Association gathering in Denver last week. Interestingly, the study results compiled from surveying 1,600 college students also continues to support past evidence suggesting that binge drinking leads to a number of problems affecting the mind and body, including alcoholism, violence, poor grades and risky sexual behavior. "I would guess it has to do with feeling like you belong and whether or not you're doing what a 'real' college student does," Hsu told LiveScience. "It seems to be more about certain groups getting to define what that looks like." Binge drinking was defined as consuming more than four drinks in one occasion for women and more than five drinks for men. Sixty-four percent of respondents said they had engaged in the practice, compared with 36 percent who said they had not. Those statistics differ from similar evidence gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's statistics measure binge drinking in the same quantity but limit the consumption period to two hours or fewer. Its results also found that the majority of binge drinkers (70 percent) were over the age of 26. The CDC has also found that 90 percent of alcohol consumed by people under the age of 21 is done in the form of binge drinking, compared with 75 percent among all U.S. adults.[/quote] [url]http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/binge-drinking-students-happier-more-accepted-others-study-194406168.html[/url]

this just in, stupid people who p4rty h4rd are more accepted and popular

What if you binge drink alone?

I'd rather be at home playing video games.

[QUOTE=vexx21322;37340567]I'd rather be at home playing video games.[/QUOTE]I'd rather be drinking at home AND playing video games. With friends of course.

What is it lately with studies pointing out the obvious?

In other news: Teenagers who smoke tend to be more popular.

[QUOTE=Lol-Nade;37340657]In other news: Teenagers who smoke tend to be more popular.[/QUOTE]Actually, smokers tend to be social outcasts.

#YOLO

Well I don't drink or smoke. I'm pretty antisocial. Wouldn't say i was unpopular. I just, ya'know, hate people.

[QUOTE=NotMeh;37340596]What is it lately with studies pointing out the obvious?[/QUOTE] Research like this tries to prove things we assume, just because it's something you "already know" doesn't mean anything. And I'm sure if they did the research and the evidence went the other way, people would still be saying "We all knew this gosh what a waste"

So how are their grades?

Yeah there's only a few people at my uni I know who don't drink at all and they are pretty weird and uncool. Drinking is pretty integral to going out because clubs are fucking atrocious places to be in when you're sober.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;37340994]So how are their grades?[/QUOTE] I'd assume it largely varies.

[QUOTE=Forumaster;37340994]So how are their grades?[/QUOTE] I know plenty of binge drinkers who get A's all the time but it varies as gekkosan says but I dont think the drinking normally has anything to do with it

[QUOTE=RudeMcRude;37340879]Well I don't drink or smoke. I'm pretty antisocial. Wouldn't say i was unpopular. I just, ya'know, hate people.[/QUOTE] I think everyone else would say you were unpopular. I really hope you're younger than 18, otherwise that shit is just embarrassing.

I always think its funny when unpopular people are completely clueless on how unpopular they are

[QUOTE=RudeMcRude;37340879]Well I don't drink or smoke. I'm pretty antisocial. Wouldn't say i was unpopular. I just, ya'know, hate people.[/QUOTE] nerrrd

Well I don't smoke dope and I don't drink bourbon and all I want is to shake my turban!

i only got drunk alone on one ocasion, and i was playing episode 2 it was pretty good but i got too emotional in the end the game

must be a slow news day

[QUOTE=Naaz;37340836]Actually, smokers tend to be social outcasts.[/QUOTE] W-what? In what hipster village is this true?

Theres a saying over here, dont trust a man who wont have pint with you.

Pretty sure this is bullshit. I don't binge drink at Uni and I've got plenty of friends who don't either, and we're all perfectly happy and doing well.

Idiotic, assumptive and frankly ridiculous studies and research papers like this are too familiar a sight. First off, happiness, how the fuck are you supposed to measure that? If you were raised into a social society with social parents, the likelihood is, you will be social too regardless of whether you drink or not, events occur that reinforce this belief, then it becomes 'true'. If you are raised into society and you're told that drinking makes you more social, the likelihood is, you'll probably drink, events occur that reinforce this belief, then it becomes 'true'. If you are told all through your life that you can be a super social party-goer without requiring alcohol, and events occur that reinforce this belief, then it becomes 'true'. If you aren't great socially and wish to become better, there's tons of ways - all involve a belief which you buy into, reinforce, and continue to believe. That is more or less the foundation of development of identity. There's no deep, intricate anomaly to be found in this ridiculous research - it's simply social psychology and a shitty poll which makes no real sense. If you have fun on your PC.. Then who's to say a 'binge drinking student' is any more happy than you? Did they even consult anyone who doesn't binge drink and is happy? Do people even have the same definition of 'happiness'?

[QUOTE=TheFilmSlacker;37342049]Last time I checked, alcohol was a depressant. I think it's the company of friends that makes them happier, not the alcohol.[/QUOTE]Depressant doesn't mean it makes you a miserable git, it just slows you down.

[QUOTE=Naaz;37340836]Actually, smokers tend to be social outcasts.[/QUOTE] Yeah, smoking stopped being "cool" at the end of the 90s.

[QUOTE=Electrocuter;37343580]Yeah, smoking stopped being "cool" at the end of the 90s.[/QUOTE] Sorry Bob but that doesn't mean smokers are social outcasts. That's like saying football (yes american football) fans are social outcasts.

[QUOTE=TheFilmSlacker;37342049]Last time I checked, alcohol was a depressant. I think it's the company of friends that makes them happier, not the alcohol.[/QUOTE] gaahhhhh thats not what depressant means in terms of alcohol, its not referring to emotion at all its referring to how it affects your level of arousal not making you depressed

Sure, they might be happier, and more popular, but do their grades suffer??