Facebook Age Display and Alcohol Use among College Students
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Facebook age presentation, Facebook alcohol displays, and alcohol related risk factors among college students.
METHODS: Students from two universities in the United States enrolled and accepted a researcher's Facebook friend request. Participant's Facebook profiles were evaluated for age and alcohol displays throughout their first year of college. Participants were interviewed regarding their alcohol use. Analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi square test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Wilcoxon sign rank.
RESULTS: The 296 participants were 56.6% female, 75.4% Caucasian. Profiles were categorized as Age Displayers (42.4%), Age Concealers (41.4%), and Age Display Changers (16.2%). Facebook alcohol displays were not associated with age display (p=0.95). Age Display Changers reported drinking initiation at an earlier age than Age Displayers (p=0.04). Age Display Changers were significantly more likely to binge drink compared to both Age Displayers and Age Concealers (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a relationship between alcohol use risk factors and inconsistent age display on Facebook. Facebook age display patterns could serve as an additional indicator of problem alcohol use.
METHODS: Students from two universities in the United States enrolled and accepted a researcher's Facebook friend request. Participant's Facebook profiles were evaluated for age and alcohol displays throughout their first year of college. Participants were interviewed regarding their alcohol use. Analysis included descriptive statistics, Chi square test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Wilcoxon sign rank.
RESULTS: The 296 participants were 56.6% female, 75.4% Caucasian. Profiles were categorized as Age Displayers (42.4%), Age Concealers (41.4%), and Age Display Changers (16.2%). Facebook alcohol displays were not associated with age display (p=0.95). Age Display Changers reported drinking initiation at an earlier age than Age Displayers (p=0.04). Age Display Changers were significantly more likely to binge drink compared to both Age Displayers and Age Concealers (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate a relationship between alcohol use risk factors and inconsistent age display on Facebook. Facebook age display patterns could serve as an additional indicator of problem alcohol use.
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 March 2018
College Student Journal publishes original investigations and theoretical papers dealing with college student values, attitudes, opinions, and learning. Topics include the areas of undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools, and may also include selected contributions dealing with college preparation.
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