Graduate Program

Family and Consumer Studies

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Semester of Degree Completion

2009

Thesis Director

Melanie Burns

Thesis Committee Member

Karla Kennedy-Hagan

Thesis Committee Member

Richard Wilkinson

Abstract

Research has suggested that many male students increase consumption of alcohol during their college years (Von Ah, Ebert, Ngamvitroj, Park & Kang, 2001). As alcohol consumption increases during this time many students also make less healthy dietary choices, suggesting a relationship between alcohol use and dietary patterns may be present (Adams & Rini, 2007). Although suggestive of a relationship, there is a lack of research documenting an association between alcohol use and dietary behaviors of male college students, therefore, the current study utilized a convenience sample of twenty male participants from a midwestem university and a series of five open-ended interview questions to explore the impact of alcohol on dietary behaviors. Results show substantial alterations in dietary behaviors of male college students in response to alcohol use. Prior to drinking participants identified eating less, or consuming a large meal high in either fat, or carbohydrate as usual behaviors. While drinking, participants described increases in impulsivity and hunger, with tendency to eat low cost, high fat meals from fast food restaurants late at night. The day after alcohol consumption some participants reported not eating at all, skipping breakfast and eating late, or having a larger breakfast consisting of greasy, carbohydrate rich foods. Due to the clear connection between alcohol consumption and dietary behaviors presented in this study continued exploration into the dietary behaviors of college students in relation to alcohol use is warranted, and may improve both recognition of undesirable patterns, and development of methods for encouraging healthful dietary choices of male college students while drinking.

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