Religion and Attitudes Toward Alcoholics

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate attitudes of college students toward alcoholics. The independent variables investigated were gender, academic classification, academic achievement, age, nationality, religious affiliation, and religious participation. The dependent variables consisted of scores from scales of the Attitudes Toward Alcoholics Inventory. A status survey factorial design was employed using three-way analysis of variance (general linear model) for the three composite null hypotheses and a one-way analysis of variance for the post hoc null hypothesis. A total of 110 comparisons were made plus 24 recurring. Of the 110 comparisons, 44 were for main effects and 66 were for interactions. Of the 44 main effects, 6 were statistically significant at the .05 level. Of the 66 interactions, 5 were statistically significant at the .05 level. The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. students who participate in religious services an intermediate amount are more positive toward Psychological Etiology as a reason for alcoholism than those who seldom participate, 2. students who seldom participate in religious services are more positive toward Humanism (treating alcoholics with respect) than those who participate frequently, 3. students of nationality other than White have a more positive attitude toward Moral Weakness (alcoholics are irresponsible) than White, 4. students with religious affiliation of other are more positive toward Social Rejection (alcoholics are unreliable and embarrassing) than students who are Catholic, 5. gender and participation in religion should be interpreted concurrently for Physical-Genetic Etiology, 6 . classification and participation in religion should be interpreted concurrently for Moral Weakness, 7. age and nationality should be interpreted concurrently for Medical Illness, 8. religious affiliation and participation in religion should be interpreted concurrently for Physical - Genetic Etiology, and 9. religious affiliation and participation in religion should be interpreted concurrently for Social Rejection.