The Effects of Campus Climate On Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among Sexual Minority College Students and Their Heterosexual Counterparts

This study explores the role of sexual orientation and college campus climate on students' alcohol and other drug use (AOD). Although contemporary biases are expressed through violence, they are often manifested in subtle forms, some of which may be unintentional (Nadal et al., 2010). Further, bystanders to harassment can be negatively affected (Schneider 1996; Silverschanz et al., 2008). We examine subtle incivility (e.g., being given dirty looks) and overt hostility (e.g., verbal threats) that are personal (targeted) and ambient (witnessed). We explore their consequence for sexual minority and heterosexual students' AOD use and related problems.

METHOD: The sample consists of 2,497 students (18% sexual minorities), drawn from a census of sophomore and junior undergraduates, a random sample of graduate students, and a convenience sample recruited through LGBT student organizations at a large public Midwestern university.

One question asked about alcohol use (past semester) and another asked about drug use (past semester; including misuse of prescription medication). Original ordinal response categories were dichotomized due to a considerable number of respondents abstaining from AOD. Problematic drinking and problematic drug use were assessed with the CAGE instrument (Ewing, 1984); responses were also dichotomized (“sometimes” or “often” to any one of the four questions = alcohol or drug problem). Ambient Incivility, Ambient Hostility, Personal Incivility, and Personal Hostility scales were created to measure the frequency of negative behaviors (past 12 months).

We used Barron and Kenny's (1986) technique and the Sobel Test to assess mediation pathways, and MacKinnon and Dwyer's (1993) strategy to test for mediation with dichotomous predictors, mediators, and outcomes. Logistic regression tested whether negative behaviors were mediators of the effect of sexual minority status on drinking and drug use. Demographic covariates (age, gender, race, undergraduate student status, and international student status) were included in all models.

RESULTS: Results indicate experiencing incivilities partially mediates the relationship between sexual minority status and having a drinking problem controlling for demographics. Sexual minority college students were more likely to personally experience uncivil behaviors, which in turn led to greater odds of evidence of having a drinking problem. The Sobel Test found the mediation pathway to be statistically significant (test statistic 3.624, SE=.005, p<.001). Results also show witnessing hostilities partially mediates the relationship between sexual minority status and having a drinking problem controlling for demographics. Sexual minority college students were more likely to witness hostilities, which in turn led to greater odds of evidence of having a drinking problem. The Sobel Test found the mediation pathway to be statistically significant (test statistic 3.173, SE=.004, p<.01).

DISCUSSION: Our findings underscore the importance of policy and prevention programs that aim to foster an optimal, tolerant campus climate for the health and welfare of all students, especially sexual minorities. AOD interventions with sexual minorities need to assess for incivilities and also witnessing negative behaviors, especially hostility. Future research is needed to explore the role of psychological distress that may occur in response to experiencing and witnessing negative behaviors in campus and their relationship to AOD.