Identifying Factors That Increase the Likelihood for Alcohol-Induced Blackouts in the Prepartying Context

Abstract

The present study examined risk factors related to “blacking out” (e.g., temporary periods of memory loss during drinking) during preparty drinking events (i.e., pregaming, predrinking). Participants were students from two universities on the West Coast who reported past month prepartying (N = 2,546) in online surveys administered in the fall of 2008. Among these students, 25% (n = 636) reported blacking out during at least one occasion in which they prepartied in the past month. A logistic regression model underscored that Greek student affiliation, family history of alcohol abuse, frequency of prepartying, and both playing drinking games and consuming shots of liquor while prepartying increased the likelihood of blacking out. Limitations and implications for future research and collegiate prevention strategies are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Identification des facteurs qui favorisent le black-out ethylique en context pre-festif

Le but de cette étude est d’évaluer les facteurs de risques liés à la perte de conscience au cours de rassemblements pré-festifs (toute réunion de jeunes qui se mettent en condition pour sortir s'amuser, en buvant ou en jouant). Les étudiants de deux universités de la côte ouest (N = 2,546) ont rapporté leur participation à ce genre de rassemblement un mois avant de répondre au sondage en ligne effectué durant l'automne 2008. Parmi ces étudiants, 25% (n = 636) ont avoué avoir perdu conscience au moins une fois au cours de ces rassemblements. Utilisant un modèle de régression logique, nous avons montré qu’être Blanc, être un habitué des rassemblements pré-festifs, et s'adonner aux jeux d'alcool comme le bière-pong tout en consommant des liqueurs fortes au cours de ces rassemblements augmentait la possibilité de perte de conscience. L'article examine les limites et les implications des recherches en cours ainsi que les stratégies de prévention en milieu universitaire.

Mots clés: Alcool, pré-festif, jeux d'alcool, perte de conscience due à l'alcool, milieu universitaire

RESUMEN

Identificación de factores que incrementan el riesgo de amnesia temporal por el consumo de alcohol durante actividades previas a una fiesta

En el presente estudio se investigan factores de riesgo asociados con la amnesia temporal durante las actividades realizadas en preparación para asistir a una fiesta (i.e., los“previos”, como consumir alcohol u otras sustancias tóxicas antes de una fiesta ya que éstas no van a estar disponibles en el evento o consumir alcohol en casa antes de una fiesta para evitar pagar más por esta sustancia en un club). Los sujetos son estudiantes de dos universidades de la Costa Oeste de los Estados Unidos, quienes, en encuestas en línea administradas en el semestre de otoño de 2008, manifestaron haber participado en este tipo de actividades durante el mes pasado (N = 2,546). De estos estudiantes, el 25% (n = 636) manifestó haber sufrido de amnesia temporal por lo menos en una ocasión en que participaron en actividades previas a las fiestas durante el último mes. La aplicación de un modelo de regresión logística reveló que la pertenencia al grupo étnico blanco, la frecuencia de participación en actividades previas a las fiestas y beber antes de las fiestas y consumir licor en copitas a la vez que se participa en las actividades previas incrementa la probabilidad de sufrir de amnesia temporal inducida por el alcohol. Se discuten las limitaciones y consecuencias para investigaciones futuras y estrategias de prevención universitarias.

Términos claves: Alcohol; Actividades previas a las fiestas; “Previos”; Amnesia temporal inducida por el alcohol; Estudiantes universitarios

Keywords :

• alcohol
• prepartying
• pregaming
• alcohol-induced blackout
• college students

THE AUTHORS

Joseph W. LaBrie obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 2002 from the University of Southern California, in addition to holding a M.Div. in theology and a M.S. in mathematics. He is currently the Special Assistant to the President, Associate Professor of psychology, and Director of the Heads Up research lab at the Loyola Marymount University. His research interests are focused on prevention and intervention efforts for risky behaviors among young adults and adolescents. Dr. LaBrie has published over 70 research articles in this area as well and been the recipient of numerous private and federal grants to study young adult health behaviors and approaches to prevention and intervention.

Justin F. Hummer is the Assistant Director of the Heads Up research lab at the Loyola Marymount University. His primary research interests consider how social and motivational factors relate to the etiology, prevention, and treatment of health-risk behaviors among college students.

Shannon R. Kenney graduated from the Brown University in 2006 with a Ph.D. in sociology. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Heads Up research lab and Visiting Assistant Research Professor at the Loyola Marymount University. Her research has focused on youth and adolescent health, including the treatment and prevention of substance misuse and poorer mental health.

Andrew Lac is earning his Ph.D. in psychology at the Claremont Graduate University, and serves as a Statistical Consultant at the Loyola Marymount University and the University of Southern California. With interests encompassing social, developmental, and health psychology, his published research applies multivariate methods to examine adolescent delinquency and family dynamics.

Eric R. Pedersen is a doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at the University of Washington. His interests are in young adult substance use. In particular, he is interested in exploring the contextual factors related to alcohol and marijuana use among college students.

GLOSSARY

• Alcohol-Induced Blackout: Period of time in which memory is impaired by alcohol consumption such that an individual is unable to recall all or parts of a past drinking event (also known as anterograde amnesia or acute alcohol-induced memory dysfunction).

• En Bloc Blackout: A blackout in which an individual suffers complete memory loss related to a drinking event, even when provided details.

• Fragmentary Blackout: A blackout associated with partial memory loss in which an individual is able to recall some but not all aspects of a drinking event, and is often able to remember details when prompted.

• Prepartying: Also referred to as pregaming, preloading, front-loading, predrinking, or prefunking, prepartying involves the consumption of alcohol prior to attending an event or activity (e.g., party, bar, concert) at which more alcohol may or may not be consumed.

Notes

1 The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.