College students' early cessation from episodic heavy drinking: prevalence and correlates

The author surveyed 788 undergraduates at a large public university (overall response rate 54%) to (1) estimate the proportion of college students who cease engaging in a pattern of episodic heavy drinking (EHD) and (2) identify individual and contextual factors associated with early cessation. He used a staging algorithm to classify respondents into 4 stages of EHD cessation. Of the 60% who had engaged in EHD, 64% continued to drink heavily with no intention of stopping, 12% continued to drink heavily but were thinking about stopping, 14% had ceased temporarily, and 9% had ceased permanently. Students who had stopped EHD perceived more risks and fewer benefits associated with alcohol misuse, but they did not differ in their perceptions of normative alcohol use on campus. Many collegiate heavy drinkers cease EHD before graduation, and others may be predisposed to moderate their alcohol use. Tailored interventions that alter alcohol expectancies may facilitate early cessation from EHD.     

Condom Use in Heavy Drinking College Students: The Importance of Always Using Condoms

Abstract

Objective: The authors examined whether alcohol use decreased condom use. Participants: The subjects were heavy-drinking students on 5 different college campuses. Methods: A face-to-face interview, administered between November of 2004 and February of 2007, gathered information about condom use, alcohol use, and other behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess predictors of condom use. Results: Of the 1715 participants, 64% reported that they did not always use condoms. Male students who drank heavily were less likely to always use condoms (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.61). Participants with more sexual partners used condoms less when drinking (AOR 1.93 for men, 1.45 for women). Conclusions: Many students do not use condoms consistently, especially those who drink heavily or have multiple sexual partners. Clinicians at student health need to encourage all students to use condoms every time they have intercourse.     

Alcohol abuse as a rite of passage: the effect of beliefs about alcohol and the college experience on undergraduates' drinking behaviors

Qualitative studies of alcohol's ritual influences indicate that college undergraduates who drink heavily tend to view alcohol use as integral to the student role and feel entitled to drink irresponsibly. Our analyses, based on a standardized measure of these beliefs administered to approximately 300 students, confirmed these findings. Among our sample, beliefs about alcohol and the college experience had an effect on levels of alcohol consumption similar in magnitude to that of other variables commonly associated with a risk for heavy drinking. Moreover, the alcohol beliefs index moderated the effects of three risk factors--gender, high school drinking, and friends' use of alcohol--on respondents' drinking behaviors. These findings are discussed within the context of the anthropological literature on liminality and rites of passage and with regard to strategies for intervention that address the structural roots of the widespread abuse of alcohol on college campuses.     

Association between sex,race/ethnicity,season, day of week,and alcohol use and related risks in college student athletes and nonathletes

Objective: To examine personal and social constructs (eg, sex, race) and external influences (ie, competition schedules) that are associated with the pattern and amount of alcohol consumption by student athletes compared to nonathletes. Participants: Students (n?=?2,984; 57% female, 61% white, 16% athlete) on a single campus were surveyed in Fall 2011 and Spring 2012. Methods: Anonymous surveys included demographics, alcohol use, and related problems. Results: Student athletes consumed more alcohol than nonathletes, with male and white athletes posing the highest levels of risk for heavy consumption. Expanded examination of in- and out-of-season athletes found out-of-season athletes drink more frequently and more per occasion than their in-season peers. Athletes were more likely than nonathletes to drink on specific days of the week and daily patterns differed between in- and out-of-season athletes. Conclusions: The risk of athlete status is moderated by sex, race, season, and day of the week.     

Binge Drinking During the First Semester of College: Continuation and Desistance From High School Patterns

Abstract

Students' first semester on campus may set the stage for their alcohol use/misuse throughout college. The authors surveyed 274 randomly sampled first-semester freshmen at a large southwestern university on their past 2 weeks' binge drinking, their high school binge drinking, and psychosocial factors possibly associated with drinking. They conducted separate analyses among high school nonbinge drinkers (testing for predictors of college binge onset vs continued nonbinge drinking) and high school binge drinkers (testing for predictors of continued binge drinking in college vs desistance from drinking). In both analyses, the variables that predicted college binge drinking largely revolved around gregarious socializing (eg, partying, having a social network of individuals who drank relatively heavily). Gender was predictive only among high school nonbinge drinkers; women had a higher probability than did men of adopting binge drinking in college.     

Examination of the relationships between dietary restraint,alcohol, and adverse problems among women

Objective: Women who report greater chronic dieting consume more alcohol, drink more frequently, and experience greater problems than women who report less chronic dieting. Alcohol may also temporarily disrupt a woman's dietary rules, leading to increased caloric intake and subsequent restriction. This study examined whether alcohol use mediated the relationship between dietary restraint and alcohol problems in a woman's daily life. Participants: Women (N = 59) completed the study by the fall of 2013. Methods: Participants completed up to six assessments for 10 days, including intended dietary restraint, alcohol use, and problems. Results: Drinking quantity partially mediated the relationship between dietary restraint and alcohol problems. For each drink consumed, there was a 1.4 times greater likelihood of eating after drinking, which was associated with greater intention to subsequently restrict calories. Conclusions: The types of drinks consumed and reasons for restricting one's caloric intake may inform the relationship between these behaviors.     

A Study of Alcohol Use by Designated Drivers Among College Students

Abstract

Objective: College students tend to drink while serving as a designated driver (DD). The predictors of alcohol use by DDs among college students were examined. Participants: Participants were 119 undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses who had experience with DD use. Methods: Survey data were analyzed to examine the predictors of planning components of DD use, such as choosing a DD before drinking and choosing an abstinent DD, and the relations of these components to alcohol use by DDs. Results: History of DD use, friends’ willingness to be the DD, frequency of riding with a driver who drank and drove, and age of drinking onset were associated with planning components of DD use. Among the planning components of DD use, choosing a DD before drinking was significantly related to less alcohol use by DDs. Conclusions: Increasing awareness of the planning components of DD use could deter alcohol use by DDs among college students.     

Comparisons of Gambling and Alcohol Use Among College Students and Noncollege Young People in the United States

Abstract

Objective: Gambling and alcohol use were compared for college and noncollege young adults in the US population. Participants: Participants were 1,000 respondents aged 18 to 21. Methods: Data were analyzed from a representative household sample of US young people aged 14 to 21 years old. Telephone interviews were conducted between August 2005 and January 2007. Results: After taking into account gender, age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, college student status did not predict gambling, frequent gambling, or problem gambling. In contrast, being a college student was associated with higher levels of alcohol use and problem drinking. Being male was the strongest predictor of both problem gambling and problem drinking. Blacks were less likely than whites to drink heavily; yet they were more likely than whites to gamble heavily. Conclusion: Young males should be targeted for prevention and intervention efforts for both problem gambling and problem drinking regardless of college student status.     

Relationships between use of dietary supplements,caffeine and sensation seeking among college students

Abstract

Objective: Caffeine and dietary supplement (DS) use by college students is not well-documented. Given reported associations between energy drink consumption and sensation seeking, we used the Sensation Seeking Scale Form V (SSS-V) to assess relationships between sensation-seeking, caffeine, and DS use. Participants: Data from 1,248 college students from five US institutions were collected from 2009 to 2011. Methods: Linear regression was used to examine relationships between scores on the SSS-V and caffeine and DS use, demographic, and lifestyle characteristics. Results: Male sex, nonHispanic race-ethnicity, higher family income, tobacco use, consuming caffeinated beverages, more than 400?mg caffeine per day, and energy drinks with alcohol at least 50% of the time, were significantly associated with higher total SSS-V scores (P?<?0.001). Those using protein DSs had higher total, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility SSS-V scores (Ps?<?0.001). Conclusions: Results demonstrate a positive correlation between sensation-seeking attitudes and habitual caffeine, energy drink, and DS consumption.     

If you feed them, will they come? The use of social marketing to increase interest in attending a college alcohol program

The authors used social marketing to design and test advertisement components aimed at increasing students' interest in attending an alcohol program focused on reaching students who drink heavily, although the authors offered no such program. Participants were undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses (N = 551). Questionnaires included measures assessing demographic information, alcohol use and negative consequences, and interest in attending an alcohol program in response to exposure to 1 of 12 systematically varied advertisements. The authors found that approximately 20% of participants across all ad types indicated some level of interest in attending the alcohol program. Students who use alcohol reported more interest in attending when an informational message was used. Of the participants offered food, 41.9% indicated the food offered in the advertisement impacted their interest in attending. Results suggest market segmentation plays a role in developing effective advertisements to recruit different groups of students based on their reported drinking behavior.     

Energy Drinks,Weight Loss,and Disordered Eating Behaviors

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined energy drink consumption and relations with weight loss attempts and behaviors, body image, and eating disorders. Participants/Methods: This is a secondary analysis using data from 856 undergraduate students who completed the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II confidentially online during February 2012. Results: This study revealed that the majority reported lifetime consumption of energy drinks (68.4%) and a substantial minority (30.2%) reported past-30-day consumption. Chi-square and t test results suggest that consumption is associated with concerns about personal appearance, weight loss attempts, and disordered eating behaviors (eg, vomiting). Hierarchical logistic regressions revealed that after controlling for demographics, the relations between energy drink consumption and the act of trying to lose weight, the use of diet pills, and the use of vomiting/laxatives remained significant. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that energy drink consumption is associated with weight loss attempts, poor body image, and unhealthy weight loss behaviors. Future research should examine the prevalence of energy drink consumption for the purpose of weight loss.     

Characteristics of university students who mix alcohol and energy drinks

Objective: Research has identified correlates (eg, drug use, risky sex, smoking) of using alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AMEDs). Few studies have investigated common mental health-related concerns (eg, depression, sleep). Participants: Alcohol-using college students (n = 380 never used AMEDs, n = 180 used AMEDs) were recruited in the study during the fall 2011 semester. Methods: The study examined demographics, substance use, depressive symptoms, and sleep problems in association with AMED use. Results: Multivariable logistic regression indicated that alcohol use severity (AOR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.14+1.34), drug use severity (AOR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.04–1.39), depressive symptoms (AOR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.01–1.12), and smoking (AOR = 2.12; 95% CI = 1.22–3.68) were independently associated with AMED use; sleep problems were non-significant. Conclusions: Administrators may consider policies regarding energy drink availability on campus, and campus health personnel may increase screening and education surrounding AMED use to reduce risks among students.     

Binge drinking during the first semester of college: continuation and desistance from high school patterns

Students' first semester on campus may set the stage for their alcohol use/misuse throughout college. The authors surveyed 274 randomly sampled first-semester freshmen at a large southwestern university on their past 2 weeks' binge drinking, their high school binge drinking, and psychosocial factors possibly associated with drinking. They conducted separate analyses among high school nonbinge drinkers (testing for predictors of college binge onset vs continued nonbinge drinking) and high school binge drinkers (testing for predictors of continued binge drinking in college vs desistance from drinking). In both analyses, the variables that predicted college binge drinking largely revolved around gregarious socializing (e.g, partying, having a social network of individuals who drank relatively heavily). Gender was predictive only among high school nonbinge drinkers; women had a higher probability than did men of adopting binge drinking in college.     

An examination of the impact of maladaptive coping on the association between stressor type and alcohol use in college

Objective: Examine the impact of maladaptive coping style on the association between source of stress (academic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, environmental) and alcohol use (consumption, heavy episodic drinking, driving under the influence) among college students. Participants: 1,027 college students completed an online survey in April 2014. Methods: To test the mediating effects of maladaptive coping on the association between academic stress and alcohol use variables, indirect effects were examined using the PROCESS analytical framework for SPSS. Results: Maladaptive coping and academic stress were associated with alcohol use outcomes. Moreover, maladaptive coping mediated the relationship between academic stress and two of three alcohol use outcomes (consumption, heavy episodic drinking). Conclusions: Among college students, the association between academic stress and alcohol use may be driven by maladaptive coping. College students may benefit from interventions that seek to improve coping skills, potentially alleviating the burden of academic stress and decreasing problematic alcohol use.     

Concurrent binge drinking and current tobacco use and its social and health correlates among adults in Laos

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine sociodemographic and health correlates of concurrent binge drinking and tobacco use in a national adult population in Laos. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted in 2013. The total sample included 2,543 individuals 18–64 years. Questionnaire interview, blood pressure, and anthropometric measurements, and biochemistry tests were conducted. Results indicate that 18.6% (38.3% in men and 5.2% in women) of the participants had engaged in concurrent current tobacco use and past month binge drinking, 15.2% in current tobacco use only and 28.4% in past month binge drinking only. Among current tobacco users, 42.2% engaged in frequent heavy drinking (3 or more times/month), and among past month heavy alcohol users, 55.8% were daily current tobacco users. In adjusted analysis, being 35 to 49 years old, lower education, having normal weight, and moderate or high physical activity were associated with concurrent current tobacco use and past month heavy drinking. Current tobacco use alone increased with age and decreased with education and heavy drinking alone decreased with age and increased with education. Findings suggest sociodemographic and health factors are important for public health interventions in addressing concurrent tobacco and alcohol use.     

The Effect of Religiosity and Campus Alcohol Culture on Collegiate Alcohol Consumption

Abstract

Religiosity and campus culture were examined in relationship to alcohol consumption among college students using reference group theory. Participants and Methods: College students (N = 530) at a religious college and at a state university complete questionnaires on alcohol use and religiosity. Statistical tests and logistic regression were utilized to examine alcohol use, religiosity, and campus environment. Results: Alcohol consumption was significantly higher among students at the university (M = 26.9 drinks) versus students at the religious college (M = 11.9 drinks). University students also had lower religiosity scores (M = 23.8) than students at the religious college (M = 26.5). Students who attend a secular university are 4 times more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers compared to students attending a religiously affiliated college. Students with the least religiosity were 27 times more likely to be a heavy alcohol user and 9 times more likely to be a moderate alcohol user compared to students with greater religiosity.     

Date fighting experiences among college students: are they associated with other health-risk behaviors?

OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the clustering of health-risk behaviors among college students who reported date fight involvement. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The authors administered a Web-based survey to a stratified random sample of 3,920 college students from 10 universities in North Carolina. RESULTS: Among men, 5.6% reported date fight victimization, and 1% reported date fight perpetration. Victimization among men was associated with (1) first drink at age 15 years or younger, (2) a recent threat of violence by someone who had been drinking, (3) smoking, (4) amphetamine use, and (5) older age. Among women, 6.7% reported date fight victimization, which was associated with (1) older age, (2) assault from a student who had been drinking, (3) sex with 2 or more persons, (4) consumption of alcohol in high school, (5) illegal drug use, (6) nonsexual assault requiring medical treatment, and (7) living off campus. Of the women, 4.2% reported date fight perpetration, which was associated with (1) minority race/ethnicity, (2) older age, (3) frequency of sexual intercourse, and (4) alcohol and marijuana use. CONCLUSIONS: Date fight experiences were associated with multiple health-risk behaviors among this sample of college students.     

Letter to the Editor

In “COMBINE follow‐up: Some heavy use of alcohol compatible with recovery” (see ADAW, Aug. 17, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.32806 ), we wrote about a study by Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, showing that some people can be in recovery but still drink heavily. We received the following commentary from Annie Peters, Ph.D., director of research and education at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP).     

Effects of beverage-specific alcohol consumption on drinking behaviors among urban youth

Alcoholic beverage consumption among high school students has shifted from beer to liquor. The current longitudinal study examined the effects of beverage-specific alcohol use on drinking behaviors among urban youth. Data included 731 adolescents who participated in Project Northland Chicago and reported consuming alcohol in 7th grade. Logistic regression tested the effects of beverage-specific use on consequences (e.g., alcohol use in the past month, week, heavy drinking, and ever drunkenness). Compared to wine users, adolescents who reported drinking hard liquor during their last drinking occasion had increased odds of alcohol use during the past month (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.01-2.05), past week (OR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.39-8.18), and ever drunkenness (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.07-2.29). Use of hard liquor was associated with increased risk of alcohol-related consequences. Early selection of certain alcoholic beverages (e.g., hard liquor) may result in negative health outcomes and problematic alcohol use over time.     

The Effect of Health Beliefs on the Smoking Behavior of College Women

Abstract

Of the 953 women from four New England colleges who responded to a random-sample survey of smoking behavior, 30.5% were current smokers; 20.3%, former smokers; and 49.2%, non-smokers. Most had begun smoking in high school. They were concerned about their smoking and over three-fourths of them had made a serious effort to stop. Their motivations for smoking and for stopping were studied. Coping with stress was an important motivation for continuation; health effects, loss of control over their lives, and social effects were important for cessation. Discriminant analysis was used to determine the relative contribution of health beliefs to changes in smoking status.