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As our first sets of longitudinal pre-post COVID data become available, a few trends are abundantly clear.
Belonging, brother/sisterhood, and satisfaction remain constant. The changes brought on by the pandemic have not weakened the connections provided by the F/S experience.
Belonging, brother/sisterhood, and satisfaction remain constant. The changes brought on by the pandemic have not weakened the connections provided by the F/S experience.
The biggest observable change is that students report higher rates of alcohol consumption, both in terms of frequency and volume. This is consistent with what we’ve seen in public health data - everyone has been drinking more during the pandemic, and F/S members are no exception.
This spike in alcohol use is exceptional from a longitudinal standpoint because it comes after several years of steady decline.
These spikes in alcohol use come despite bar closures and lockdowns on large gatherings, suggesting that our members are drinking more, but in smaller groups and more intimate settings, or possibly drinking alone.
There is a real possibility that one of the significant lasting side effects of COVID is increased alcohol dependency among our students. Campuses and national organizations would be wise to invest in strategies aimed at addressing these issues.
As the pandemic wanes and large social gatherings once again become the norm, having an increased number of members with dependency issues could be a recipe for disaster.
