Validation of the College Alcohol Problem Scale-revised (CAPS-r) for use with non-adjudicated first-year students

Adolescent Experiences with Self-Asphyxial Behaviors and Problematic Drinking in Emerging Adulthood

Self-asphyxial behavior to achieve a euphoric high (The Choking Game; TCG), occurs most often during early adolescence. Participants in TCG often engage in other risky behaviors. This study investigated the relationship between prior experience with TCG and problematic drinking behaviors in emerging adulthood. Emerging adults, 18 to 25 years old (N = 1248), 56% female, and 78% Caucasian completed an online survey regarding knowledge of and prior engagement in TCG and current drinking behaviors. Participants who personally engaged in TCG during childhood/adolescence or were familiar with TCG reported significantly more problematic drinking behaviors during emerging adulthood. Those present when others engaged in TCG but resisted participation themselves reported significantly less current problematic drinking behaviors than those who participated, but significantly more current problematic drinking behaviors than those never present. Emerging adults with increased social familiarity with TCG during adolescence endorsed greater problematic drinking behaviors. Results suggest resistance skills may generalize across time/activities.

Validation of the Drinking Context Scale (DCS-9) for use with non-adjudicated first-year college students

The Drinking Context Scale (DCS-9) has been used to measure the impact of drinking during social, emotional, and situational contexts. Psychometric properties remain unevaluated in a population of non-adjudicated first-year college students in the southeast. Liseral 8.8 was used to test the factorial validity of the DCS, using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The original three factor model for the DCS represented acceptable fit to the data (chi(2)=36.72, df=24, p=0.047, CFI=0.991, SRMR=.0406) supporting its use with first-year college students. Invariance between gender, ethnic group, and geographical regions should be examined by future researchers.