Abstract
Background: The rise of the Internet has provided another context in which college students can engage in normative risk-taking behavior. However, little is known about online risk-taking or the extent to which it is associated with substance use. Methods: Heterogeneity in self-reported online risk-taking was explored among 246 U.S. college students (17–23 year old; 60% male; 65% White) using a finite number of discrete online risk-taking profiles. The relationship between different profiles of online risk-taking and substance use was then assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: Three unique classes of online risk-taking emerged. Individuals in the high online risk-taking class had significantly higher odds of engaging in lifetime alcohol use, lifetime marijuana use, and lifetime illegal drug use compared to individuals in the low risk-taking class. Substance use was not associated with the probability of membership in the sexual online risk-taking class relative to the low risk-taking class. Conclusions: Results suggest a need for a more nuanced understanding of which students are engaging in online risks and how online risk-taking is associated with substance use.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 156-161 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Substance Use |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 4 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Keywords
- Internet
- Risk-taking
- college
- substance use
- technology