The culture of high-risk alcohol use among club and intramural athletes

How do college students use their free time? A latent profile analysis of leisure activities and substance use

College is a critical period of transition to independence and the substantial amount of time that students have to participate in leisure activities may be conducive to substance use. However, little is known about the associations between leisure activities and substance use over time, or whether these associations differ by residential status (i.e., living with parents vs. on their own). Using latent profile analysis, this study found six distinct profiles of leisure activity participation in a racially/ethnically diverse sample of college students (N=1,207). Overall, profiles with medium levels of leisure activity participation were associated with more alcohol use, heavy drinking, and marijuana use one year later; whereas profiles with the lowest levels of leisure activity participation were associated with more cigarette use one year later. Identifying mechanisms through which leisure activities influence substance use can help inform prevention efforts to either reduce risks associated with participation or support protective effects.

Correlates of Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink Use Among First Year College Students: Clinical and Research Implications

Background: Alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) use among college students is associated with specific adverse effects (e.g., sexual assault, driving while intoxicated). This study offered the opportunity to evaluate correlates of past year AmED use in a large sample of college students. Methods: In autumn 2010, emails were sent to all first year students (n = 29,536) at 11 colleges and universities in North Carolina and Virginia, inviting them to participate in a brief web-based survey to be used to establish a cohort for the parent tobacco use study; 10,340 (35%) students responded to the web-based survey, which elicited items on demographics, past year use of AmED, and other health behaviors. Results: Past year of AmED was reported by 29.4% of students. Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender (adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-1.42); ever use of smokeless tobacco (AOR = 3.51, 95% CI = 3.00-4.10); current smoking (AOR = 4.97, 95% CI = 4.34-5.69); 2 or fewer days of physical activity per week (AOR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04-1.28); and 7 or 8 hours of sleep per day (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24) predicted risk of past year use of AmED. Conclusions: Nearly a third of first year college students reported past year use of AmED. Our finding of increased past year use of AmED use among women is new and might reflect the changing epidemiology of female college alcohol use. Of additional concern, such use might also reflect targeted marketing to women by the energy drink industry. Findings can guide future research as well as substance counseling to college students.

It isn't all just fun and games: Collegiate participation in extracurricular activities and risk for generalized and sexual harassment, psychological distress, and alcohol use

Collegiate extracurricular activities, despite their benefits, may place students at an increased risk for experiencing harassment. This study utilizes multiple waves of data from an online longitudinal survey to examine how participation in college activities (intramural sports, fraternities/sororities, school clubs) relates to experiences of sexual and generalized harassment and outcomes (psychological distress, heavy alcohol use) among undergraduates (N = 1852, 58.6% female, 57.4% White) in the Midwestern United States. Activity participation was related to harassment, but the pattern depended on the activity, harassment type, and sex. Fraternity/sorority involvement was associated with generalized harassment, whereas school club involvement was linked to both generalized and sexual harassment. Female intramural athletes were at an increased risk to experience both harassment types. In addition to direct relations, activity participation was indirectly linked to future psychological distress (depression, anxiety) and heavy alcohol use via harassment. Implications for intervention with this college student population are discussed.

Utilization and limitations of the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment instrument: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the literature in which researchers have utilized the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) I or the NCHA II.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

The authors selected peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and July 2013 utilizing a single search term: National College Health Assessment. Articles were assessed for instrument use, limitations, and data analyses.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 72 articles for inclusion. Researchers used the instrument to either conduct a primary investigation or utilize reference group data for secondary analysis. Researchers used many data analyses, statistical tests, techniques, and methods. Limitations of the instrument were consistently mentioned by researchers.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate limitations in the NCHA. To ensure college health professionals are gaining the best information possible regarding students on their campuses, specific improvements to the NCHA are recommended.

Examining Drinking Patterns and High-Risk Drinking Environments Among College Athletes at Different Competition Levels

This study examined drinking patterns of three different college student groups: (a) intercollegiate athletes, (b) intramural/club athletes, and (c) nonathletes. Additionally, we investigated whether a relationship exists between drinking setting and risk of increased drinking. We analyzed data on the athletic involvement, drinking behaviors, and drinking settings of 16,745 undergraduate students. The findings revealed that drinking patterns for intramural/club athletes remained relatively consistent at all quantity levels; however, intercollegiate athletes consumed alcohol in higher quantities. Further, intramural/club athletes drank in almost every drinking setting, whereas intercollegiate athletes were more limited. The drinking patterns and settings suggest a stronger social motivation for drinking among intramural/club athletes than among intercollegiate athletes and point to a need to specify competition level when studying college athletes.

Alcohol use among college athletes: do intercollegiate, club, or intramural student athletes drink differently?

BACKGROUND

Varsity student athletes are a high-risk drinking group, exhibiting a greater propensity to binge drink than their non-sport peers. Moreover, as intercollegiate athletic involvement increases, so too does alcohol consumption. There is little research, however, which examines drinking behaviors of students who participate in nonvarsity athletics.

OBJECTIVES

Identify differences in alcohol-related behaviors and associated consequences among U.S. varsity, club, and intramural athletes, and nonathlete college students.

METHODS

Secondary data analysis of the 2011 National College Health Assessment (n = 29,939).

RESULTS

Intramural athletes binge drank more frequently (M = 1.1, SD = 1.7) than club athletes (M = 1.0, SD = 1.6), intercollegiate athletes (M = 0.9, SD = 1.5), and nonathletes (M = 0.6, SD = 1.3) and also experienced greater alcohol-related consequences. Intramural athletes consumed the most during their last drinking episode (M = 4.1, SD = 4.0) and reached the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (M = 0.062, SD = 0.09).Compared to club and varsity athletes [M = 0.8, SD = 1.4; t (8,131) = -9.6, p < .001], intramural-only athletes reported binge drinking significantly more frequently (M = 1.2, SD = 1.7) and also reached significantly higher BACs during most recent drinking episode (M = 0.064, SD = 0.08) than organized sport athletes [M = 0.057, SD = 0.08; t (8,050) = -3.0, p = .003].

CONCLUSIONS

Intramural athletes represent a higher-risk drinking group than other athlete and nonathlete college students. Future research should investigate factors contributing to drinking differences among different athlete groups.