Stress levels and alcohol use amongst beginning students at a peri-urban South African university: A brief report

Abstract

We explored stress levels and alcohol use amongst first year students at a peri-urban university in South Africa. A cross sectional survey design using stratified random sampling was utilised (n = 217; females = 60%, males = 40%; age range 17 to 31 years). The students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Alcohol Use Identification Disorder Test (AUDIT). Descriptive statistics and independent t-tests were used to analysed data. Forty-one percent of the sample reported being fairly to very upset often, while 39% self-reported that they were fairly or very often unable to control important things in their life. Females self-reported significantly more stress than males. About 50% of the sample reported that they drank alcohol two or three times a day and 10% of males and 9% of females self-reported risky and/or harmful levels of alcohol use. Results suggested a need for student substance use safety education by students’ counselling services.