Sorority Pledges: a Longitudinal Examination of Changes in Alcohol Attitudes, Behaviors, and Normative Perceptions Throughout Recruitment and Early Pledging

Abstract

Study purpose was to examine changes in sorority pledge drinking behaviors and normative perceptions throughout recruitment and the early pledging process. Students were women, at least 18 years of age, who were seeking membership in a sorority or were currently members of a sorority at Oklahoma State University. Participants completed a 12-item questionnaire which assessed drinking practices, attitudes about acceptability of drinking, and normative perceptions of a typical sorority member's drinking behaviors and attitudes. Match between potential members and sorority house joined was not strongly related to alcohol variables. Variables which appeared to influence match primarily included attitudes and normative perceptions. Sorority pledges were found to change some of their drinking behaviors and attitudes to a significantly greater degree than did women who had also gone through recruitment but did not ultimately join a sorority. Pledges often changed to become closer to the norm of the sorority house they joined.