Do College Drinkers Learn from Their Mistakes? Effects of Recent Alcohol-Related Consequences on Planned Protective Drinking Strategies among College Freshmen

Abstract

This study examined whether recent alcohol-related consequences affect intentions to use protective drinking strategies. Responses were collected from incoming college freshmen (N = 84,367) at 279 U.S. colleges and universities. Plans to limit future drinking were significantly lower among students who were male, younger, White, or were in or intending to join a fraternity or sorority. For heavy drinkers, having recently experienced a higher level of external harms predicted increased plans to limit drinking. For all drinkers, a lower level of recent impaired driving predicted increased plans to limit drinking. Limitations and implications are discussed.

RÉSUMÉ

Cette étude a examiné si des conséquences récentes liées à la consommation d'alcool modifient l'intention d'utiliser des stratégies protectrices de consommation. Les réponses ont été recueillies auprès d'étudiants en première année de 279 universités américaines (N = 84 367). L'intention de limiter de futures consommations d'alcool était significativement plus basse parmi les étudiants hommes, jeunes, caucasiens ou parmi ceux qui étaient ou avaient l'intention de devenir membres d'une fraternité ou d'une association d'étudiante. Pour les gros buveurs, le fait d'avoir vécu des dommages externes importants prédisait une augmentation des plans pour la consommation d'alcool. Pour tous les buveurs, la conduite sous l'emprise de l'alcool même à un faible niveau prédisat aussi une augmentation des lans visant à limiter la consommation d'alcool. Les limites et les implications de ce travail sont discutées.

RESUMEN

Este estudio examinó como las consecuencias relacionadas con el uso reciente de alcohol afectan las intenciones de usar estrategias de protección. Se obtuvieron 279 universidades estadounidenses usando estudiantes de primer año (N = 84,367). Los planes para limitar el consumo son significativamente mas bajos dentro los hombres, jóvenes, rasa blanca, o los que pertenecen en o tienen la intención de unirse a una fraternidad o hermandad. Para los bebedores en exceso, el haber experimentado recientemente un nivel mayor de danos externos, predijo un aumento en sus planes para limitar el consumo de alcohol. Para todos los bebedores, un menor nivel de conducir incapacitado recientemente, predijo un aumento en los planes para limitar el consumo. Las limitaciones e implicaciones se discuten.

Keywords :

• alcohol
• drinking
• college students
• consequences
• protective behaviors

THE AUTHORS

Norma D. Nguyen, MPH, is a Research Associate in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso. She has published research papers examining mortality disparity using the NHANES III dataset as well as alcohol behaviors of matriculating college freshman in a multi-college dataset. She currently works in grant administration and analysis of primary data from cancer prevention studies including cancers of the colon, breast, and cervix.

Scott Walters, PhD, is Professor of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health. Dr. Walters' research is focused on developing better ways of talking with people about change. This has involved translating effective counseling strategies such as motivational interviewing to non-traditional settings (e.g., healthcare, criminal justice) and modalities (e.g., web, mobile, phone). His publications include 55 peer-reviewed journal articles and five books, including most recently, Treating Substance Abuse: Theory and Technique (3rd Ed.).

Todd Wyatt, PhD, oversees the collection, analysis, implementation and dissemination of data for EverFi, an education technology organization whose stated mission is to address critical life skills across the life-span. In addition to his work with EverFi, Dr. Wyatt is an adjunct instructor of Psychology at Georgetown University in Washington DC. His research interests range from the development of financial literacy to the implications of substance abuse on social and academic success in adolescence and early adulthood.

William DeJong, PhD, is Professor of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University, School of Public Health. Dr. DeJong's research is focused primarily on youth alcohol use, especially among U.S. college students. He is the author of over 400 professional publications, including peer-reviewed articles, monographs, policy briefs, and other practice-oriented publications.

GLOSSARY

• External consequences: More severe physical or social problems that result from drinking (e.g., injuring another person, getting in a fight, damaging property).

• Heavy drinking: Consuming “5 or more” drinks for men or “4 or more” drinks for women in a single episode in the past two weeks.

• Impaired driving: Drove shortly after drinking 4 or more drinks in the past 2 weeks.

• Internal consequences: Less severe problems that result from drinking (e.g., getting a hangover, passing out, doing something embarrassing).

• Planned limited drinking: Planned use of protective drinking behaviors in the next 30 days.

• Protective behaviors: Behavioral strategies used to reduce the amount of alcohol consumption (e.g., keeping track of drinking, adding ice/water to drinks) or problems that might result from drinking (e.g., use a designated driver).