Predicting Alcohol Consumption in Hospitality Populations Using Sense of Coherence

This paper aims to introduce the claim that hospitality students and hospitality employees drink more alcohol than other students and employee groups and to explore and explain this alcohol consumption disparity using the sense of coherence (SOC) construct. Using a web-based questionnaire, college students were recruited, surveyed, and classified into hospitality and non-hospitality majors. Self-reported alcohol consumption, SOC, and a variety of demographic variables were measured. A total of 930 students participated of which 59.4% were female and 28% were hospitality majors. About 47% of hospitality students, 33% of other majors, 43% of women, and 38% of men were classified as at-risk consumers of alcohol. The overall SOC score was about 139 with a range of 69-191. None of the sub-populations differed significantly in SOC. While SOC does not predict major or occupational choice, SOC is a predictor of risky alcohol consumption.

sense of coherence (SOC), alcohol consumption, addiction, hospitality industry and hospitality students, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

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