An Examination of Peer Ethnic-Racial Socialization and Alcohol Intoxication Among Latino College Students

Integrating students into their college community is viewed as essential for student retention. However, these efforts may expose students to a drinking subculture, which potentially threatens their academic success. This threat appears even more pronounced for students of color, who must also navigate racial obstacles such as prejudice and discrimination, which further predispose them to greater levels of problem drinking. Drawing off survey data from a Latino sample of college students, I examine the importance of peer socialization messages about ethnicity and race (peer ethnic-racial socialization; peer ERS) and how they influence levels of alcohol intoxication. A confirmatory factor analysis identified three dimensions of peer ERS: cultural socialization, preparation for bias, and promotion of mistrust. Peer messages stressing cultural socialization reduced levels of alcohol intoxication by promoting a strong ethnic identity. In addition, respondents actively involved in fraternities/sororities and student clubs/organizations reported reduced prevalence of alcohol intoxication when exposed to greater levels of all three dimensions of peer ERS. I discuss these findings within the broader ethnic-racial socialization literature as well as how they might be used by administrators to improve retention for students of color.