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

Associations Between Alcohol and Cannabis Use and Pain Among College Student-Athletes

Background: Pain motivates alcohol and cannabis use, with evidence that pain catastrophizing (i.e., ruminative exaggeration of pain) mediates these associations. Student-athletes represent a unique population who engage in riskier substance use, experience more substance-related consequences, and are more likely to develop chronic pain compared to non-athletes. Objectives: This study examined relationships between pain, catastrophizing, alcohol and cannabis use and consequences. Student-athletes from two Division I universities (N = 549; 51% female) completed a cross-sectional survey. Moderated mediation tested the conditional indirect effect of pain catastrophizing on associations between pain and alcohol- and cannabis- use and consequences, separately, with sex moderating the a and b paths. Results: There was a significant direct effect between pain and alcohol-related consequences (b = 0.11, p = .008). Pain and pain catastrophizing were positively associated in all four models (bs = 0.68-0.72, ps <.001), and this relationship was stronger among female than male athletes. No other direct or conditional indirect effects were observed. Conclusions: Student-athletes experiencing pain report more alcohol-related consequences, and pain catastrophizing may be particularly relevant for student-athletes with greater pain. Future research should examine other factors proposed by theoretical models, such as negative affect, while focusing on athletes with more significant pain (e.g., injured athletes).

Substance Misuse in Elite Athletes: Early Detection, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment

Sports medicine physicians and athletic trainers regularly encounter athletes who misuse substances that put them at risk for adverse health, social, interpersonal, academic, psychological, and performance effects. The three most encountered substances are alcohol (binge drinking), cannabis (marijuana), and tobacco/nicotine vaping. Early detection using self-report screening instruments, adverse consequences questionnaires, and urine testing are reviewed. Brief interventions that involve personalized feedback, goal setting, support system involvement, psychoeducation, contingency management, and/or motivational interviewing are highlighted. Lack of response to brief intervention or progression to a substance use disorder should prompt the consideration of referral to a substance specialty level of care.

Tackling student drinking within the drinking subculture of a university sports competition: a culture change approach

Purpose

This paper explores the impact of a suite of alcohol culture change interventions implemented by Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. The interventions were designed to change the alcohol culture at a bi-annual nation-wide university multi-sport competition known as Uni Nationals. This study aims to understand the critical success factors of the alcohol culture change initiatives that were developed by the university and implemented as part of a broader set of institutional practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research design utilised in-depth, semi-structured interviews with nine Uni Nationals student team leaders. In total, two group interviews and four individual interviews were conducted with student team leaders who participated in the Uni Nationals. The interview transcripts were coded and themed. The themes were further refined and interpreted into a narrative. A total of two transcripts were independently coded by the first two authors. Discordant coding was flagged and discussed until a consensus was achieved. The remaining interviews were coded by the first author and discussed with the second author to ensure consistency. A socio-ecological framework was used to understand perceived changes to alcohol culture.

Findings

Student leaders were aware of and felt supported by the university-wide approach to changing the culture of Uni Nationals. Overall, the qualitative study indicated that students were positive about the alcohol culture change interventions. The leadership training that engaged team leaders in interactive activities had the greatest impact. Student leaders found the targeted messages, mocktail events and Chef de Mission (CdM) less effective cultural change strategies. However, they helped to establish expectations of students in this setting where a heightened focus on sport was associated with higher alcohol consumption.

Originality/value

While there has been growing academic interest in exploring “drinking cultures”, there has been relatively little focus on alcohol culture of university students at sporting events. The paper contributes to addressing this gap by shedding light on the impact of a group of interventions on the drinking culture of the Uni Nationals subculture.

Comparison of Pregaming Alcohol Use and Consequences by Season Status and Sex in College Student Athletes

As student athletes exhibit unique alcohol use patterns based on being in- versus out-of-season and biological sex, we aimed to explore student athlete (N = 442) alcohol use, pregaming behaviors, and associated negative outcomes. Results suggest being out-of-season and male are positively associated with negative alcohol-related consequences, and male athletes report greater numbers of pregame specific alcohol-related consequences than female athletes (p < .05). Female athletes indicated significantly higher estimated blood alcohol concentrations than male athletes on pregaming nights. No differences emerged between in- and out-of-season athletes on pregame consequences. Results suggest that further emphasis on the role season status and sex has on pregaming behaviors and experiencing negative outcomes may be an important next step toward enhancing prevention and intervention approaches.

Empirical Development of a Screening Method to Assist Mental Health Referrals in Collegiate Athletes

The conspicuous absence of validated screening measures specific to mental health symptomology in collegiate athletes has negatively affected clinical practice in this population. Therefore, this study was performed to develop a sport specific measure to optimally identify collegiate athletes who are particularly likely to benefit from mental health programming. Participants were 289 collegiate-athletes who were assessed for mental health symptomology using the Global Severity Index of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (GSI), factors that interfere with sport performance using the Problems in Sport Competition Scale (PSCS) and Problems in Sport Training Scale (PSTS), and motivation to pursue professional counseling using the Desire to Pursue Sport Psychology Scale (DSPS). As hypothesized, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that PSCS, PSTS and DSPS scores significantly predicted GSI scores, controlling gender and sport status (NCAA, club, intramural). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that high-risk athletes (GSI T-scores ≥ 60) could be correctly classified by PSTS and PSCS scores. Results suggest the PSCS and PSTS may assist identification of collegiate athletes who are especially appropriate for mental health programs. These scales additionally identify factors directly relevant to athletes’ sport performance.

Risks associated with alcohol and marijuana use among college student athletes: The case for involving athletic personnel in prevention and intervention

The purpose of this study was to describe alcohol and marijuana use patterns and related consequences among student athletes. A total of 12,510 students (n=1,233 athletes) completed four cross-sectional online annual surveys as part of a multi-site campus initiative. Chi-square tests of independence, t-tests, and regression models evaluated differences in alcohol and marijuana use between athletes and non-athletes. The prevalence of binge drinking and high intensity drinking was significantly higher among student athletes than non-athletes, even after controlling for demographic characteristics. Thirteen percent of student athletes experienced an alcohol-related injury during the past year; this was more common among binge drinkers than non-binge drinkers (20.5% and 2.6%, respectively). Among student athletes, past-month binge drinking and past-year marijuana use were significantly associated with lowered GPA (ps<.01). Skipping class was twice as prevalent among student athletes who used marijuana as compared with athletes who did not use marijuana, but no differences were found related to binge drinking. Components for a training for athletic personnel to reduce risks for alcohol-related injury and academic consequences that are associated with alcohol and marijuana use among student athletes are described. Involving athletic personnel might be an important strategy to identify and intervene with high-risk student athletes.

Controlled Evaluation of an Optimization Approach to Mental Health and Sport Performance

Athletes experience unique stressors that have been indicated to compromise their mental wellness and sport performance, yet they underutilize mental health services. Indeed, very few mental health interventions for athletes have been developed to fit sport culture, and well-controlled mental health outcome research in athlete populations is warranted. In this randomized controlled trial, a sport specific optimization approach to concurrent mental health and sport performance (The Optimum Performance Program in Sports; TOPPS) was examined. Seventy-four collegiate athletes (NCAA = 42; club = 11; intramural = 21) formally assessed for mental health diagnostic severity were randomly assigned to TOPPS or campus counseling/psychological services as usual (SAU) after baseline. Dependent measures assessed general mental health, mood, mental health factors affecting sport performance in training, competition and life outside of sports, days using substances, sexual risk behaviors, happiness in relationships, relationships affecting sport performance, and contributions of relationship to sport performance. Intent to treat repeated measures analyses indicated that participants in TOPPS consistently demonstrated better outcomes than SAU up to 8-months post-randomization and for mental health/substance use measures, particularly when diagnostic criteria were most severe. Recommendations are provided in light of the results to assist sport-specific mental health intervention development and implementation within athlete populations.