Clinician's Roundtable Uncovering Misperceptions About College Drinking
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Most of us have fond memories of our college years. As we now see in our families and in our practices, and perhaps retrospectively in ourselves, the behavior of college students is often influenced by what is perceived to be normal among their peers. Looking more specifically at social norms research, college students tend to overestimate negative behavior, while underestimating positive behavior, relating to a range of health issues, from smoking and binge drinking to risky sexual practices and wearing seat belts. Dr. James Turner, president-elect of the American College Health Association, and executive director of the National Social Norms Institute, explains how social norms campaigns can highlight differences between the perceptions and realities that influence young people, to improve their actions and ultimately their health. Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.