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McNamara IA, Soto D, Su J, Dick DM. Family History and Alcohol Use Outcomes: Examining Transmission of Risk through Impulsivity and the Moderating Role of Organized Sports Participation. Subst Use Misuse 2023; 58:1090-1101. [PMID: 37194673 PMCID: PMC10247443 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2205518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND College students are at risk for alcohol misuse and those who participate in organized sports are at even higher risk. Family history of alcohol problems (FH) and impulsivity are well-documented risk factors for alcohol use outcomes, but no research has examined the role of organized sports participation in moderating these associations. This study examined the associations between FH, alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms, the role of UPPS-P (Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance, Sensation Seeking, Positive Urgency impulsive behavior scale) impulsivity dimensions in mediating the association between FH and alcohol use outcomes, and whether these associations vary by students' organized sports participation. METHOD Participants (N = 3,959, 64.7% female, 51.8% White; Mean age = 18.48 years, SD = .40) were recruited from a large, public university and completed an online survey in the fall and spring semesters of their first year in college. Path analyses were conducted in Mplus. RESULTS FH was associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and more AUD symptoms. Lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, and negative urgency partially mediated the associations between FH and alcohol consumption and AUD symptoms. The association between negative urgency and AUD symptoms was stronger for organized sports participants. CONCLUSIONS Impulsivity dimensions are risk factors for both alcohol consumption and AUD symptoms and serve as important pathways for the transmission of risk between generations. Prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing problematic alcohol use should target impulsivity generally, and particularly negative urgency among college students who participate in organized sports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A McNamara
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Derek Soto
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Jinni Su
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Danielle M Dick
- Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Abstract
Objective: The current study investigates the effects of an alcohol-prevention program delivered to college students in a formal classroom setting. Participants: The sample comprised 231 first-year college students who enrolled in a multisection “First Year Experience” course at a large northeastern university in the United States. Method: A naturalistic experiment was conducted, with a baseline evaluation at the beginning of the semester and a post-experiment evaluation near the end of the semester. Results: Social drinking attitudes, proximal drinking norm and the college effect are significant predictors of pre- and post-intervention episodic drinking frequency. The intervention reduced episodic drinking frequency as well as perceived distal and proximal drinking norms. It also increased drinking attitudes and did not change perceived efficacy or drinking-outcome expectancies. Conclusions: Practitioners could consider implementing a similar intervention to allow students to learn and practice safe drinking skills in the first year of their college life.
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Boyle HK, Merrill JE, Carey KB. Examining changes in drinking motives and their influence on drinking behaviors among heavy drinkers during their first year of college. Addict Behav 2022; 124:107099. [PMID: 34534840 PMCID: PMC8791556 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Drinking motives are robustly related to alcohol use behavior from adolescence through young adulthood. Yet, examination of changes in motives during the first year of college, a transitional time associated with both onset of and increases in heavy drinking has been understudied. We examined (a) whether drinking motives change, (b) time-varying effects of motives on alcohol use and consequences, and (c) change in the strength of the association between motives and use and motives and consequences over the first year of college. A sample of 121 heavy drinking first-year students (50% female, 58% Caucasian) completed three assessments (baseline, 3 months, 6 months). Endorsement of social motives declined from 0 to 3 months, while endorsement of coping, enhancement, and conformity motives declined from 3 to 6 months. Social motives were positively associated with alcohol use and consequences across assessments. When motive × time interactions were tested in separate models, the strength of effects of coping motives on drinks per week increased from 0 to 3 months. The strength of the effect of coping and conformity motives on consequences increased from 0 to 3 months and then decreased from 3 to 6 months. Identifying how drinking motives evolve and relate to trajectories of alcohol use may help to understand the development of risky drinking behavior and inform intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly K Boyle
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Jennifer E Merrill
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Kate B Carey
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
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Abstract
Injunctive social norms are behaviours that one is expected to follow and expects others to follow in a given social situation; they are maintained by the threat of disapproval or punishment and by the process of internalization. Injunctive norms govern all aspects of our social life but the understanding of their effects on individual and group behaviour is currently rather incomplete. Here I develop a general mathematical approach describing the dynamics of injunctive norms in heterogeneous groups. My approach captures various costs and benefits, both material and normative, associated with norm-related behaviours including punishment and disapproval by others. It also allows for errors in decision-making and explicitly accounts for differences between individuals in their values, beliefs about the population state, and sensitivity to the actions of others. In addition, it enables one to study the consequences of mixing populations with different normative values and the effects of persuasive interventions. I describe how interactions of these factors affect individual and group behaviour. As an illustration, I consider policies developed by practitioners to abolish the norms of footbinding and female genital cutting, to decrease college students' drinking, and to increase pro-environmental behaviours. The theory developed here can be used for achieving a better understanding of historical and current social processes as well as for developing practical policies better accounting for human social behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Gavrilets
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Department of Mathematics, National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis, Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN37996USA
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5
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Yockey RA, King KA, Vidourek RA. The Epidemiology of Recent Alcohol Use Among a National Sample of Middle Eastern College Students. JOURNAL OF DRUG EDUCATION 2020; 49:30-42. [PMID: 32779985 DOI: 10.1177/0047237920929328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol use among college students is a national health concern. The epidemiology of alcohol use among Middle Eastern college students remains to be investigated. This study sought to understand the epidemiology of recent alcohol use among Middle Eastern college students. We use data from the 2017 to 2018 Healthy Minds Study to identify predictors of recent alcohol use among 1,763 Middle Eastern students nationwide. Weighted univariate analyses were conducted to determine significant predictors of recent alcohol use. Nearly half (45.5%) of Middle Eastern college students reported using alcohol in the past 2 weeks (recent alcohol use). Those at highest risk for recent alcohol use were in their 4th year of schooling (p < .001), living in a fraternity or sorority house (p < .001), and reported that religion was not a big part of their life (p < .001). Students who lived with their parents were less likely to drink alcohol (p < . 001). Recent alcohol use among Middle Eastern college students is a national public health concern. Interventions are warranted to decrease this growing public health anomaly and to more effectively deal with this current public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Andrew Yockey
- Health Promotion and Education Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Center for Prevention Science, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Keith A King
- Health Promotion and Education Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Center for Prevention Science, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca A Vidourek
- Health Promotion and Education Program, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Center for Prevention Science, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Wolfson L, Stinson J, Poole N. Gender Informed or Gender Ignored? Opportunities for Gender Transformative Approaches in Brief Alcohol Interventions on College Campuses. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E396. [PMID: 31936091 PMCID: PMC7014134 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17020396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 01/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Brief alcohol interventions are an effective strategy for reducing harmful and risky alcohol use and misuse. Many effective brief alcohol interventions include information and advice about an individual's alcohol use, changing their use, and assistance in developing strategies and goals to help reduce their use. Emerging research suggests that brief interventions can also be expanded to address multiple health outcomes; recognizing that the flexible nature of these approaches can be helpful in tailoring information to specific population groups. This scoping review synthesizes evidence on the inclusion of sex and gender in brief alcohol interventions on college campuses, highlighting available evidence on gender responsiveness in these interventions. Furthermore, this scoping review offers strategies on how brief alcohol interventions can be gender transformative, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions as harm reduction and prevention strategies, and in promoting gender equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Wolfson
- Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (J.S.); (N.P.)
- Canada Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Research Network, Vancouver, BC V5R 0A4, Canada
| | - Julie Stinson
- Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (J.S.); (N.P.)
| | - Nancy Poole
- Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada; (J.S.); (N.P.)
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Perkins AE, Varlinskaya EI, Deak T. From adolescence to late aging: A comprehensive review of social behavior, alcohol, and neuroinflammation across the lifespan. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2019; 148:231-303. [PMID: 31733665 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The passage of time dictates the pace at which humans and other organisms age but falls short of providing a complete portrait of how environmental, lifestyle and underlying biological processes contribute to senescence. Two fundamental features of the human experience that change dramatically across the lifespan include social interactions and, for many, patterns of alcohol consumption. Rodent models show great utility for understanding complex interactions among aging, social behavior and alcohol use and abuse, yet little is known about the neural changes in late aging that contribute to the natural decline in social behavior. Here, we posit that aging-related neuroinflammation contributes to the insipid loss of social motivation across the lifespan, an effect that is exacerbated by patterns of repeated alcohol consumption observed in many individuals. We provide a comprehensive review of (i) neural substrates crucial for the expression of social behavior under non-pathological conditions; (ii) unique developmental/lifespan vulnerabilities that may contribute to the divergent effects of low-and high-dose alcohol exposure; and (iii) aging-associated changes in neuroinflammation that may sit at the intersection between social processes and alcohol exposure. In doing so, we provide an overview of correspondence between lifespan/developmental periods between common rodent models and humans, give careful consideration to model systems used to aptly probe social behavior, identify points of coherence between human and animal models, and point toward a multitude of unresolved issues that should be addressed in future studies. Together, the combination of low-dose and high-dose alcohol effects serve to disrupt the normal development and maintenance of social relationships, which are critical for both healthy aging and quality of life across the lifespan. Thus, a more complete understanding of neural systems-including neuroinflammatory processes-which contribute to alcohol-induced changes in social behavior will provide novel opportunities and targets for promoting healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Perkins
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Elena I Varlinskaya
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Terrence Deak
- Developmental Exposure Alcohol Research Center, Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY, United States.
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Ford JD, Grasso DJ, Levine J, Tennen H. Emotion Regulation Enhancement of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for College Student Problem Drinkers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2017; 27:47-58. [PMID: 30930609 PMCID: PMC6438385 DOI: 10.1080/1067828x.2017.1400484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
This pilot randomized clinical trial tested an emotion regulation enhancement to Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) with 29 college student problem drinkers with histories of complex trauma and current clinically significant traumatic stress symptoms. Participants received eight face-to-face sessions of manualized internet-supported CBT for problem drinking with or without trauma-focused emotion regulation skills (Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy, TARGET). Both interventions were associated with sustained (at one-month follow-up) reductions in self-reported drinking frequency, drinking related impairment, and heavy drinking in the past week, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD symptoms, and improvement in self-reported emotion regulation. The enhanced intervention was associated with significantly greater sustained reductions in complex PTSD symptoms and resulted in medium/large effect size reductions in days of alcohol use (versus small effects by CBT). Emotion regulation enhancement of CBT for college student problem drinkers with interpersonal trauma histories warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian D Ford
- University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030
| | - Damion J Grasso
- University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030
| | - Joan Levine
- University of Connecticut, 269 Glwenbrook Rd., Storrs, CT 06269
| | - Howard Tennen
- University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030
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Rospenda KM, Fujishiro K, McGinley M, Wolff JM, Richman JA. Effects of Workplace Generalized and Sexual Harassment on Abusive Drinking Among First Year Male and Female College Students: Does Prior Drinking Experience Matter? Subst Use Misuse 2017; 52:892-904. [PMID: 28426358 PMCID: PMC5515543 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2016.1267218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Workplace harassment, a known risk factor for adult drinking, is understudied in college samples, but may help explain observed gender differences in drinking patterns. OBJECTIVE We examine effects of sexual and generalized workplace harassment on changes in drinking behavior over the first semesters of college, and the extent to which these effects differ based on prematriculation drinking for men and women students. METHOD Data derive from two waves of a longitudinal study of eight Midwestern colleges and universities. Data were collected from 2080 employed students via a Web-based survey assessing sexual and generalized workplace harassment, stressful life events, drinking to intoxication, and binge drinking prior to freshman year (fall 2011) and approximately one year later (summer to fall 2012). At baseline, lifetime drinking status, frequency of alcohol consumption, and demographics were also assessed. RESULTS Linear-mixed modeling indicated that employed women students who were frequent drinkers prematriculation were at risk for high levels of drinking associated with workplace harassment, while men who were nondrinkers were most at risk of increasing problem drinking over time when exposed to workplace harassment. CONCLUSIONS Alcohol use prevention efforts directed towards employed students are needed both prior to and during college, to instruct students how to identify workplace harassment and cope in healthier ways with stressful workplace experiences. These efforts might be particularly useful in stemming problematic drinking among women who drink frequently prior to college, and preventing men who are nondrinkers upon college entry from initiating problematic drinking during subsequent enrollment years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Rospenda
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , Illinois , USA
| | - Kaori Fujishiro
- b National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Cincinnati , Ohio , USA
| | - Meredith McGinley
- c Department of Psychology , North Central College , Naperville , Illinois , USA
| | - Jennifer M Wolff
- d Department of Psychology , University of North Florida , Jacksonville , Florida , USA
| | - Judith A Richman
- a Department of Psychiatry , University of Illinois at Chicago , Chicago , Illinois , USA
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10
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Dunne EM, Katz EC. Alcohol Outcome Expectancies and Regrettable Drinking-Related Social Behaviors. Alcohol Alcohol 2015; 50:393-8. [PMID: 25820611 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agv026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Research has shown that alcohol outcome expectancies are predictive of heavy alcohol consumption, which can lead to risky behavior. The purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of various low-risk social behaviors while drinking among college students. Such social behaviors may later be regretted (referred to as regrettable social behaviors) and include electronic and in-person communications. METHODS College students (N = 236) completed measures of alcohol outcome expectancies and regrettable social behaviors. RESULTS Regrettable social behaviors were reported by 66.1% of participants, suggesting that they may occur at a much higher rate than more serious drinking-related consequences (e.g., drinking and driving, violence, etc.). Expectancies for social facilitation predicted regrettable social behavior. Further, this relationship was mediated by amount of alcohol consumed. CONCLUSION Given the high incidence, regrettable social behaviors may be effective targets in alcohol prevention programming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene M Dunne
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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11
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Kirst M, Mecredy G, Borland T, Chaiton M. Predictors of substance use among young adults transitioning away from high school: a narrative review. Subst Use Misuse 2014; 49:1795-807. [PMID: 25033376 DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2014.933240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young adulthood has been shown to be a time of increased substance use. Yet, not enough is known about which factors contribute to initiation and progression of substance use among young adults specifically during the transition year away from high school. OBJECTIVES A narrative review was undertaken to increase understanding of the predictors of changes in use of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, other illicit drugs, and mental health problems among young adults during the transition period after high school. METHODS A review of academic literature examining predictors of the use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis, and co-morbidities (e.g., co-occurring substance use and/or mental health issues) among young adults transitioning from high school to post-secondary education or the workforce. RESULTS Twenty six studies were included in the review. The majority of the studies (19) examined substance use during the transition from high school to post-secondary settings. Seven studies examined substance use in post-secondary settings. The studies consistently found that substance use increases among young adults as they transition away from high school. During the transition away from high school, common predictors of substance use include substance use in high school, and peer influence. Common predictors of substance use in post-secondary education include previous substance use, peer influence, psychological factors and mental health issues. Conclusions/Importance: Further research on social contextual influences on substance use, mental health issues, gender differences and availability of substances during the transition period is needed to inform the development of new preventive interventions for this age group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritt Kirst
- 1Centre for Research on Inner City Health, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Swann CA, Sheran M, Phelps D. Factors associated with reductions in alcohol use between high school and college: an analysis of data from the College Alcohol Study. Subst Abuse Rehabil 2014; 5:13-23. [PMID: 24648793 PMCID: PMC3931661 DOI: 10.2147/sar.s55180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The consumption of alcohol by college students is a significant public health concern, and a large amount of literature explores this issue. Much of the focus is on the prevalence and correlates of binge drinking. Relatively few studies explore reductions in drinking, and these generally focus on reductions that occur during college. Aims We examined the transition between high school and college and sought to understand the characteristics and behaviors of students that are related to reductions in the consumption of alcohol during this transition. Methods We used data from all four rounds of the Harvard School of Public Health’s College Alcohol Survey and logistic regression models to relate the status of reduced alcohol consumption to five groups of variables: demographic and parental variables, other substance use, social environment, student activities, and alcohol policies. Results A number of characteristics were related to reductions in drinking. Students whose fathers did not attend college were more likely to reduce alcohol consumption (odds ratio [OR] =1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.06–1.55), whereas students who prioritize parties (OR =0.35; CI =0.30–0.43) and who have recently smoked cigarettes (OR =0.52; CI =0.41–0.64) or marijuana (OR =0.52; CI =0.40–0.67) or whose fathers are moderate (OR =0.73; CI =0.55–0.96) or heavy (OR =0.72; CI =0.53–0.96) drinkers were less likely to reduce alcohol consumption. Conclusion The results highlight the importance of family background and social environment on reductions in drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Swann
- Department of Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Michelle Sheran
- Department of Economics, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Diana Phelps
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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13
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Tomaso CC, Zamboanga BL, Haas AL, Olthuis JV, Kenney SR, Ham LS. All it takes is one: drinking games, prepartying, and negative drinking consequences among high school students. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2013. [DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2013.856478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Hummer JF, Napper LE, Ehret PE, LaBrie JW. Event-specific risk and ecological factors associated with prepartying among heavier drinking college students. Addict Behav 2013; 38:1620-8. [PMID: 23254208 PMCID: PMC3582320 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2012.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Revised: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Using event-specific data, the present study sought to identify relevant risk factors and risky drinking patterns associated with prepartying. Analyses focused on drinking outcomes as a function of drinking game playing and the social context on occasions where prepartying did and did not occur. This research utilized a representative two-site sample of prepartiers who also reported a heavy episodic drinking event in the past month (n=988). Results revealed that during a preparty event, participants drank significantly more, reached higher blood alcohol levels (BALs), and experienced significantly more negative consequences compared to the last occasion that they drank but did not preparty. Students who played drinking games when they prepartied had higher BALs and experienced more negative consequences than those who did not play drinking games. Whether females prepartied in a single-sex or coed setting had little effect on their BALs. For males, however, their BALs were greater when they prepartied in a coed setting compared to a single sex setting. Moreover, participants reported more negative consequences when they prepartied in a coed setting than in a single-sex setting. Finally, regression analyses demonstrated that participants' BAL, frequency of prepartying, and the interaction between BAL and frequency of prepartying all uniquely contributed to the prediction of event-specific alcohol-related negative consequences. As BAL increased, the number of negative consequences increased more sharply for those who prepartied infrequently, compared to those who prepartied frequently. Analyses were examined as a function of gender which revealed important gender effects and interactions. Interventions can be designed to intervene with high-risk prepartiers by using BAL education emphasizing the impact of time-limited prepartying drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin F Hummer
- Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Suite 4700, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA.
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15
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Ehret PJ, Labrie JW, Hummer JF. I can play all night: examining the relationship between perceived tolerance and drinking game alcohol consumption. Subst Use Misuse 2012; 47:1318-27. [PMID: 22876832 PMCID: PMC5108655 DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2012.710291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The present study examined the impact of perceived tolerance to alcohol on maximum alcohol consumption while playing drinking games. Participants were student drinkers (N=3,546) from two west coast universities. Among these students, 69.2% (n=2,290) reported playing a drinking game in the past month. Analyses demonstrated game players had higher perceived tolerances, and consumed more alcohol than non-game players. A regression model revealed that higher levels of perceived tolerance were related to increased maximal alcohol consumption while playing drinking games. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip J Ehret
- Department of Psychology, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California 90045, USA
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Testa M, Hoffman JH. Naturally occurring changes in women's drinking from high school to college and implications for sexual victimization. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012; 73:26-33. [PMID: 22152659 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2012.73.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study examined the natural trajectories of alcohol use among women as they transitioned from high school to college, considering changes in drinking for students at initially different levels of drinking. We examined the hypothesis that the association between college drinking and sexual victimization would be stronger for women with less high school drinking experience. METHOD Female, college-bound, high school seniors were recruited from the community at the time of graduation (N = 437). Alcohol consumption and sexual victimization were assessed at the time of high school graduation (Time 0 [T0]) and at the end of the first (T1) and second (T2) semesters of college. RESULTS Abstainers and light drinkers increased alcohol consumption from T0 to T1; however, consumption by those already engaging in heavy episodic drinking remained stable. Consumption did not increase for any group from T1 to T2. As expected, maximum consumption in college was strongly associated with experiencing incapacitated rape or other sexual victimization during the same semester; however, prior drinking experience did not moderate the relationship. CONCLUSIONS Occasions of heavy drinking in college are a significant risk factor for sexual victimization for both experienced and inexperienced drinkers. Findings point toward universal prevention, ideally before college entry, as a strategy for reducing heavy episodic drinking and hence, college sexual victimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Testa
- Research Institute on Addictions, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14203, USA.
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LaBrie JW, Ehret PJ, Hummer JF, Prenovost K. Poor adjustment to college life mediates the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol consequences: a look at college adjustment, drinking motives, and drinking outcomes. Addict Behav 2012; 37:379-86. [PMID: 22177614 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Revised: 09/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The current study examined whether the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol-related outcomes was mediated by college adjustment. Participants (N=253) completed an online survey that assessed drinking motives, degree of both positive and negative college adjustment, typical weekly drinking, and past month negative alcohol-related consequences. Structural equation modeling examined negative alcohol consequences as a function of college adjustment, drinking motives, and weekly drinking behavior in college students. Negative college adjustment mediated the relationship between coping drinking motives and drinking consequences. Positive college adjustment was not related to alcohol consumption or consequences. Positive reinforcement drinking motives (i.e. social and enhancement) not only directly predicted consequences, but were partially mediated by weekly drinking and degree of negative college adjustment. Gender specific models revealed that males exhibited more variability in drinking and their positive reinforcement drinking motives were more strongly associated with weekly drinking. Uniquely for females, coping motives were directly and indirectly (via negative adjustment) related to consequences. These findings suggest that interventions which seek to decrease alcohol-related risk may wish to incorporate discussions about strategies for decreasing stress and increasing other factors associated with better college adjustment.
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Wardell JD, Read JP, Colder CR, Merrill JE. Positive alcohol expectancies mediate the influence of the behavioral activation system on alcohol use: a prospective path analysis. Addict Behav 2012; 37:435-43. [PMID: 22209025 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Revised: 10/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Gray's (1975, 1987) behavioral activation (BAS) and behavioral inhibition systems (BIS) are thought to underlie sensitivity to reinforcement and punishment, respectively. Consistent with Gray's theory and the Acquired Preparedness model, BAS may facilitate the learning of positive alcohol expectancies (PAEs) over time, leading to increases in drinking. Yet, no prospective tests of this pathway have been reported. The present study investigated whether BAS prospectively predicted PAEs and whether PAEs mediated the association between BAS and subsequent alcohol use. We hypothesized that BAS would influence drinking specifically via enhancement-related PAEs. We also explored the role of BIS in PAEs and drinking. College students (N=557) completed online BAS, PAE, and alcohol use measures in September of their first (T1), second (T2), and third (T3) years of college. We conducted autoregressive path analyses with three BAS subscales and BIS (T1) as predictors, four PAE types (T2) as mediators, and quantity and frequency of drinking (T3) as outcomes. The BAS Fun-Seeking scale was prospectively associated with PAEs, and there was a significant indirect path from Fun-Seeking to alcohol use mediated specifically through activity enhancement PAEs. BIS was positively associated with some PAE types, but did not have indirect effects on drinking. Findings are consistent with both the theory of the BAS and the Acquired Preparedness model, as individuals high on BAS Fun-Seeking may find the rewarding properties of alcohol more reinforcing, leading to stronger enhancement PAEs and increased drinking over time. The prospective design helps establish the temporal association between BAS and alcohol-related learning, and points to the need for prevention efforts that target these at-risk students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Wardell
- The State University of New York at Buffalo, 206 Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.
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Wardell JD, O'Connor RM, Read JP, Colder CR. Behavioral approach system moderates the prospective association between the behavioral inhibition system and alcohol outcomes in college students. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2012; 72:1028-36. [PMID: 22051217 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.1028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) is a useful framework for understanding alcohol use, including problematic drinking among college students. Although the link between the behavioral approach system (BAS) and drinking is well established, the role of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) is less well studied, and findings have been mixed. Consistent with RST, the relationship between BIS and problematic drinking may be moderated by BAS, but tests of the BIS × BAS interaction have been scarce. We hypothesized that high BIS would be a risk factor for subsequent problematic drinking in combination with an elevated BAS, whereas BIS would protect against subsequent problematic drinking in the context of low levels of BAS. METHOD College student drinkers (N = 638; 66% women) at two universities completed online measures of BIS, BAS, alcohol use, and alcohol problems at matriculation (Time 1 [T1]) and again 1 year later (Time 2 [T2]). RESULTS Regression analyses of alcohol use and problems were performed with BIS, BAS, and the BIS × BAS interaction as predictors. The interaction was not statistically significant in cross-sectional models (T1 alcohol outcomes), but it was a significant prospective predictor of T2 alcohol use (marginal) and T2 alcohol problems. Simple slopes analyses revealed that BIS was a positive predictor of T2 alcohol use and problems at high but not low levels of BAS, albeit this effect was less reliable for use. CONCLUSIONS Our findings enhance interpretation of RST, demonstrating a complex link between BIS and problematic drinking risk, one that is moderated by BAS. The prospective nature of these associations suggests that, together, BIS and BAS may promote increases in problematic drinking over time, highlighting the need for targeted interventions during the first year of college.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Wardell
- Department of Psychology, 206 Park Hall, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA.
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Kazemi DM, Dmochowski J, Sun L, Grady K, Nies MA, Walford S. Brief motivational interviewing to reduce alcohol consumption among freshmen: secondary effects on polydrug use. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2011. [DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2011.606347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Hummer JF, Pedersen ER, Mirza T, Labrie JW. Factors Associated With General and Sexual Alcohol-Related Consequences: An Examination of College Students Studying Abroad. JOURNAL OF STUDENT AFFAIRS RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2010; 47:421-438. [PMID: 23505594 PMCID: PMC3596165 DOI: 10.2202/1949-6605.6134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study contributes to the scarce research on U.S. college students studying abroad by documenting general and sexual negative alcohol-related risks and factors associated with such risk. The manner of drinking (quantity vs. frequency), predeparture expectations surrounding alcohol use while abroad, culture-related social anxiety, and perceived disparity between home and host cultures differentially predicted consequences abroad. The findings include important implications for student affairs professionals in developing study abroad-specific interventions and resources to maintain student well-being while abroad.
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Spera C, Franklin K, Uekawa K, Kunz JF, Szoc RZ, Thomas RK, Cambridge MH. Reducing drinking among junior enlisted Air Force members in five communities: early findings of the EUDL program's influence on self-reported drinking behaviors. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2010; 71:373-83. [PMID: 20409431 PMCID: PMC2859786 DOI: 10.15288/jsad.2010.71.373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2009] [Revised: 08/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the fall of 2006, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded discretionary grants to five communities in four states as part of the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws initiative. These 3-year grants were designed to support implementation of a set of interventions using an environmental strategies approach to reduce drinking and associated alcohol-related misconducts among active-duty Air Force members ages 18-25, with a specific focus on the underage population. The current article presents findings from Year 1 of the evaluation. METHOD Data on alcohol use were obtained from a large-scale, anonymous survey that fielded in the spring of 2006 (i.e., pretest) and the spring of 2008 (i.e., posttest) from a stratified random sample of Air Force members at five demonstration and five comparison communities. RESULTS The percentage of junior enlisted personnel at risk for an alcohol problem dropped 6.6% in the Air Force overall during the last 2 years but dropped as much as 13.6% and 9.8% in two Arizona demonstration communities that implemented the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The first-year results suggest that the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws intervention may have been one factor that helped to reduce the percentage of junior enlisted Air Force members at risk for an alcohol problem in the demonstration communities.
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An examination of prepartying and drinking game playing during high school and their impact on alcohol-related risk upon entrance into college. J Youth Adolesc 2009; 39:999-1011. [PMID: 19904593 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-009-9473-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2009] [Accepted: 10/26/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Prepartying and drinking game playing are associated with excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related negative consequences in college populations; however, research exploring the prevalence of these high risk drinking contexts among high school students, and how such engagement may impact both high school and subsequent college drinking risk, is lacking. The current study, which is the first study to assess prepartying during high school, examined how engaging in either prepartying or drinking game playing during high school was associated with risky high school drinking as well as alcohol use and consequences during the transitional first month of college. The study involved 477 first-year college students, the majority of whom were 18 years old (94%), female (66%), and Caucasian (59%). Prepartying was found to be highly prevalent in high school (45%). Further, students who prepartied or played drinking games during high school drank significantly more in high school than students who did not engage in these high risk activities. Finally, prepartying and game playing during high school were associated with greater collegiate alcohol consumption (controlling for high school drinking) and consequences (controlling for both high school and college drinking). This study establishes prepartying and drinking games as common high risk activities among both high school and incoming first-year college students, and addresses implications for prevention and targeted interventions.
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