A study by researchers from Ohio University and North Carolina State University, which came out in the Journal of Health Communications, reveals that a person’s Facebook updates can predict the risk of becoming an alcoholic. In addition, college students are more at risk for alcohol abuse because posting about their drinking sprees is highly acceptable among their peers. Lynsey Romo, one of the lead authors of the research says that social networking sites (SNSs) are used by college students to embrace their drinking habits which make it easier to identify them. The study has one threshold question to 364 undergrads over 18 who have drank at least once in the past 30 days: what drives you to drink and post about drinking on SNSs? The researchers also said that the students did not see posting about drinking as a manifestation of a drinking problem or see it as an encouragement for others to drink. Romo suggests that their findings can help lawmakers create policies that would target college students and help them from becoming alcoholics.

It is challenging to single out students at the risk of boozing problems, but according to a recent study social media can serve as an effective means to do so. - Study says your Facebook updates can predict your risk of alcohol addiction

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.thehealthsite.com