Students´ experience of responsibility for friends´ alcohol habits : A qualitative study at Campus Helsingborg

Abstract: Ilar A. Students´ experience of responsibility for friends´ alcohol habits- a qualitative study at Campus Helsingborg. Bachelor thesis. Program in Public Health. Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, University of Gävle; 2011.   The aim of this study was to explore students’ experience of responsibility for friends´ alcohol habits, using a qualitative method. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 students at Campus Helsingborg and the transcriptions were analyzed using content analysis. The findings suggested that the majority (62,5 %) of the participants felt a responsibility for their friends´ alcohol habits in contexts where alcohol was consumed. Responsibility was most often built on reciprocity in the friendship and the fact that they cared about each other not to end up in harmful situations. Perceiving a responsibility did not seem to be associated with taking responsibility to help, thus helping was rather linked to how well they knew each other, if they themselves were under the influence of alcohol and the severity of the situation. Further research is needed to understand students´ experiences of responsibility for friends´ alcohol habits in other contexts. These studies would provide more information to health policy makers and Student Health Service workers as they attempt to reduce alcohol-related health problems in Swedish Universities and colleges.