PTSD and Pregaming in College Students: A Risky Practice for an At-Risk Group

ABSTRACT

Background: College students with trauma exposure and PTSD are at risk for problem drinking. This may include more specific hazardous drinking practices such as pregaming (drinking prior to a social event), which is linked to increased alcohol-related consequences. Objectives: The present study examined the association between pregaming and alcohol consequences and the role of trauma exposure and PTSD in predicting pregaming and alcohol-related consequences in a sample of college students using Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling (MSEM). We also assessed specific risk associated with PTSD relative to trauma exposure alone in relation to our outcomes. Methods: Participants were categorized into groups based on trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms via diagnostic interview: (1) No Trauma, those who had not experienced a Criterion A trauma; (2) Trauma Only, those who experienced a Criterion A trauma but did not currently have PTSD; and (3) PTSD, those with current full or partial PTSD related to a Criterion A trauma. Alcohol consumption and related consequences also were measured via interview (TLFB, B-YAACQ). Results: For all participants, nearly 50% more consequences were reported on pregaming days compared to nonpregaming drinking days. Those with PTSD were significantly more likely to pregame than those in the Trauma Only and No Trauma groups. Moreover, students with PTSD reported more consequences on pregaming days relative to the other two groups. In all analyses, the No Trauma and Trauma Only groups did not differ. Conclusions: PTSD may confer risk both for pregaming and experiencing harmful consequences on pregaming days.

KEYWORDS:

• PTSD
• alcohol
• pregaming
• college students
• risky drinking
• alcohol consequences
• trauma
• pre-party

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [Grant number R01AA016564].

Notes on contributors

Sharon Radomski

Sharon Radomski, MA, is an advanced Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate working in Dr. Jennifer P. Read's Alcohol Research Lab at the State University of New York at Buffalo in the Department of Psychology. Her research is focused on individual and environmental factors that influence healthy development during emerging adulthood. Primarily, she is interested in problematic substance use, trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress, as well as other potential risk and protective factors such as personality, coping skills, and goal directedness. Much of this work has focused on transitions as critical periods of development.

Jessica A. Blayney

Jessica A. Blayney, MA, is a doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her research interests focus on the risk and protective factors associated with sexual assault. She is also interested in the post-trauma adaptation process associated with interpersonal violence. She has contributed to several published articles on trauma-exposure, college drinking, and risky sexual behavior in heterosexual and sexual minority young adults.

Mark A. Prince

Mark A. Prince, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Research Institute on Addictions. He is also a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health and Health Behavior at the State University of New York at Buffalo. His research is focused on (a) identifying and examining mechanisms of behavior change for substance use disorders, (b) developing interventions targeting proposed mechanisms, and (c) applying advanced quantitative methods to model the clinical and developmental course of substance use disorders.

Jennifer P. Read

Jennifer P. Read's research interests are oriented around the identification of factors that lead to problematic alcohol and other substance use in young adults. Much of this work has focused specifically on around two related topics (1) psychosocial determinants of young adult alcohol use and consequences, and (2) the co-occurrence of posttraumatic stress symptoms and substance use. Dr. Read's research program has examined both environmental and individual determinants of alcohol use using both laboratory and survey approaches. Dr. Read also has a line of research on the measurement and evaluation of negative consequences resulting from heavy drinking in college students.