A Daily Diary Study of Drinking and Nondrinking Days in Nonstudent Alcohol Users

ABSTRACT

Background: Emerging adults with lower educational attainment are at higher long-term risk for problematic drinking and alcohol use disorders. Efforts to gain a more in-depth understanding of the drinking habits of nonstudent emerging adults are critical to reduce disparities and to shed light on targets of intervention for this vulnerable group. Objectives: The current investigation aimed to: (1) provide a description of the daily drinking habits of nonstudent emerging adult drinkers using a 14-day diary method, and (2) examine nondrinking days by assessing their reasons for not drinking as well as strategies used to avoid drinking. Methods: Participants were 27 (55.5% women) emerging adult drinkers recruited from the community. Results: On drinking days, multilevel results indicated that heavier alcohol use was positively associated with level of subjective intoxication and alcohol-related problems. Men reported higher alcohol use outcomes than women across all alcohol use indicators. Regarding nonconsumptive days, the most frequently endorsed reasons for not drinking largely reflected an internal motivation, while the least endorsed reasons were related to external constraints. Pertaining to strategies used to avoid drinking, the most frequently endorsed response related to choosing alternative enjoyable activities. Diary compliance with the 14-day protocol was 90.9% for at least one daily survey. Conclusion/Importance: The present investigation represents one of the first to examine drinking behaviors using a daily diary approach with nonstudent emerging adult drinkers. Study findings filled an important gap regarding our understanding of the context of drinking of an at-risk and understudied group of drinkers.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• daily diary
• nonstudent
• emerging adults
• alcohol-related problems
• subjective intoxication

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

Cathy Lau-Barraco was supported by a Career Development Award (K01-AA018383) from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael was supported by the NIAAA under a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31-AA023118) and by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (P50 DA039838).