scholarly journals Changes in College Student Alcohol Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Are Perceived Drinking Norms Still Relevant?

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682098674
Author(s):  
Scott Graupensperger ◽  
Anna E. Jaffe ◽  
Charles N. B. Fleming ◽  
Jason R. Kilmer ◽  
Christine M. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
College Student ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Use Behavior

With widespread concern for increased alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a pressing need to examine changes in young adults’ alcohol use and to identify antecedents of increased use. We tested the hypothesis that self-reported changes in alcohol use during the pandemic (frequency, quantity, heavy episodic drinking) would relate to perceptions of peers’ changes in alcohol use. In April of 2020, 507 college students self-reported changes in their alcohol use and perceived changes in use for typical students at their university (i.e., norms). Most students in our sample reported decreased alcohol use and perceived decreases in peers’ alcohol use. Perceptions of peers’ changes in alcohol use behavior strongly related to changes in students’ own alcohol use. Findings provide strong support for norms-based strategies that can correct normative misperceptions by highlighting the fact that most college students are not in fact engaging in heavier alcohol use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Young Adults’ Physical Distancing Behaviors During the Initial Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Adherence to Guidelines and Associations With Alcohol Use Behavior

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110046
Author(s):  
Clare Einberger ◽  
Scott Graupensperger ◽  
Christine M. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adult Behavior ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
High Risk Drinking ◽  
Use Behavior

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific and public health communities have become increasingly focused on understanding young adults’ physical distancing behaviors and the role that young adults have on viral potentiation and community spread. In the present study, we surveyed a group of 560 young adults (ages 22-28) from the greater Seattle area in April 2020, during statewide “shelter-in-place” recommendations, to examine young adults’ self-reported adherence to physical distancing guidelines. Self-report measures were used to identify strong adherers and poor adherers, which we then compared in terms of engagement in specific physical distancing behaviors and alcohol use behaviors pertaining to physical distancing adherence. We found that most young adults are classified as strong adherers, and that poor adherers reported more frequent violations of physical distancing guidelines including having friends over to their residence or going over to other residences. Poor adherers were also significantly more likely to engage in high-risk alcohol use behavior, such as heavy episodic drinking, compared to those young adults who were classified as strong adherers. Our results provide initial evidence that young adults who engage in high-risk drinking may be at greater risk for non-adherence to government recommended physical distancing guidelines. This deeper understanding of young adult behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic can better inform public health outreach to increase physical distancing adherence currently, as well as in preparation for future contagious health crises that may require societal-level adherence to behavioral guidelines.

scholarly journals Young adult sexual health: current and prior sexual behaviours among non-Hispanic white US college students

Sexual Health ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny A. Higgins ◽  
James Trussell ◽  
Nelwyn B. Moore ◽  
J. Kenneth Davidson
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Sexual Practices ◽  
Oral Sex ◽  
Vaginal Intercourse ◽  
Sexual Activities ◽  
Hispanic White

Background: Less is known about the sexual health of young adults than about adolescents, despite 20 to 24-year-olds’ greater risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections. This paper provides information on college students’ prior and current sexual practices including oral sex, vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and masturbation. Methods: We analysed data from a cross-sectional sexuality survey of students from two university campuses in the USA, one Mid-western and one South-western (n = 1504). The sample consisted of non-Hispanic white, never-married students who identified as heterosexual. Results: Of 16 possible combinations of four sexual activities (solitary masturbation, oral sex, vaginal intercourse and anal intercourse), only four contained more than 5% of respondents: masturbation, oral sex and vaginal intercourse (37%); oral sex and vaginal intercourse only (20%); all four (14%); and none (8%). Twenty percent had ever engaged in anal intercourse. Women were significantly less likely than men to have ever masturbated (48 v. 92%). Analyses exhibited several sexual health challenges, including lack of verbal sexual consent, alcohol use proximal to sex and lack of contraceptive use. Conclusions: Although few young adults are substituting it for vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse is increasingly common and safer sex efforts should encourage condom use during both sexual activities. Masturbation should be encouraged as an alternative to higher risk sexual practices and an essential aspect of sexual well being. Finally, practitioners should continue to address specific threats to college students’ sexual health, including alcohol use and non-verbal consent.

scholarly journals Alcohol Consumption among Freshman College Students in Spain: Individual and Pooled Analyses of Three Cross-Sectional Surveys (2005, 2012 and 2016)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2548
Author(s):  
Alicia Busto Miramontes ◽  
Lucía Moure-Rodríguez ◽  
Narmeen Mallah ◽  
Ainara Díaz-Geada ◽  
Montserrat Corral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Positive Expectancies

Objective: We aimed to evaluate changes in the prevalence of Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) and Risky Consumption (RC) in freshman college students between 2005, 2012 and 2016; and to identify the explanatory variables of these patterns of consumption using individual and pooled analyses. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 5260 students was carried out in Spain in 2005, 2012 and 2016. HED and RC were determined using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Another questionnaire was used to measure parental education level and alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, age of onset of alcohol use and alcohol-related expectancies. Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) of RC and HED and their 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using logistic regression. Results: An increase in the prevalence rates of HED and RC was observed among women during the three-study periods, nonetheless there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence rates among men. High maternal educational level, living away from parental home, initiating drinking before the age of 15 and having positive expectancies about drinking are associated with higher prevalence of RC in both genders. High positive expectancies and early onset of alcohol use are associated with higher rates of HED among men and women. Students recruited in 2012 and 2016 are protected against RC in comparison to those recruited in 2005. Conclusions: The age of alcohol consumption onset is the most influencing factor on HED and RC for both genders in the three-study periods. Alcohol prevention campaigns targeting youth at early ages can reduce risky drinking behaviors.

Daily Exercise and Alcohol Use Among Young Adult College Students

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110470
Author(s):  
Amy L. Stamates ◽  
Ashley N. Linden-Carmichael ◽  
Cathy Lau-Barraco
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Daily Exercise ◽  
Temporal Sequencing ◽  
Adult College Students ◽  
The Impact

The present study examined associations between exercise and alcohol use at the between- and within-person levels, including temporal sequencing and the impact of gender. Participants were 221 college students that completed an online survey and 14 daily surveys assessing their daily exercise and alcohol use. Individuals who reported higher exercise scores also consumed more alcohol, on average. On days when individuals reported consuming fewer drinks than usual, they also reported greater exercise scores. Individuals reported lower exercise scores following a day with heavier alcohol use than usual or a day with heavy episodic drinking. Exercise was unassociated with next-day alcohol use. There were mixed findings on the impact of gender. Exercise may have a more proximal influence on drinking. Exercise interventions for alcohol use could target days with higher probabilities of drinking to reduce levels of alcohol use among college students.

scholarly journals Factors Associated With Owning a Fake ID: Personality Traits and Problematic Alcohol Use

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-184
Author(s):  
Kelly Deegan ◽  
Beth A. Kotchick
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
College Student ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Openness To Experience ◽  
Student Population ◽  
Problematic Alcohol ◽  
College Student Population ◽  
Problematic Alcohol Use

The purpose of the present study was to examine the correlation between certain personality traits, one’s alcohol use, and owning a fake ID. Many college students use fake IDs to obtain alcohol while underage, which is then related to higher rates of problematic alcohol use. Problematic alcohol use has a number of negative health consequences; as such, efforts to prevent problematic alcohol use among college students need to be identified. The study was conducted with a college student population using an online survey to assess the personality traits of extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness to experience as predictors of fake ID ownership. The relation between fake ID ownership and problematic alcohol use was also assessed. Those who owned a fake ID scored higher in extraversion, t(151) = 2.10, p = .037, d = 0.34, and roblematic alcohol use, t(120) = 2.61, p = .02, d = 0.42, and lower in neuroticism, t(151) = −1.94, p = .054. d = −0.36, and openness to experience, t(151) = −2.48, p = .01, d = −0.40, than those who did not own a fake ID. The results of this study can aid in identifying who among the college student population should be targeted with alternate socializing events to prevent fake ID ownership and problematic alcohol use.

scholarly journals Changes in Alcohol Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Young Adults: The Prospective Effect of Anxiety and Depression

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (19) ◽  
pp. 4468
Author(s):  
Belén del Valle Vera ◽  
José Carmona-Márquez ◽  
Óscar Martín Lozano-Rojas ◽  
Alberto Parrado-González ◽  
Claudio Vidal-Giné ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Measured Quantity ◽  
Drinking Habits ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Drinking Frequency ◽  
The Impact

Health measures instantiated to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have imposed significant constraints for the population and impacted on drinking habits and mental health. This study longitudinally compared changes in alcohol consumption before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact of sociodemographic and mental health variables on such changes among a community sample of young adults. Data were collected in the context of a larger, ongoing longitudinal study. The sample consisted of 305 young adults from Spain aged between 18 and 26 years (mean age = 21.27, (SD = 2.21), female = 53.4%; college students = 61.6%) who completed first (November-2019 and February-2020; i.e., before the outbreak of COVID-19) and second follow-up questionnaires (March 2021, a year after the COVID-19 outbreak). Alcohol use (quantity and drinking frequency), depression and anxiety symptoms were measured. Quantity and frequency of alcohol use decreased from the pre- to post-COVID-19 period. A decrease in drinking frequency was observed among college students, but not in noncollege peers. Although we found no effect of pre-COVID-19 anxiety on alcohol use changes, those with more depressive symptoms at the pre-COVID assessment were more resistant to decreasing their drinking quantity and frequency after the COVID-19 outbreak. This information will be of value when designing interventions aimed at reducing harmful alcohol use and highlights the role of mental health status when identifying high risk populations of young-adults during this, and future, public health crises.

scholarly journals Increased mood disorder symptoms, perceived stress, and alcohol use among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Elizabeth Charles
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Mood Disorder ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Psychological Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spring Break ◽  
Risky Alcohol ◽  
Multiple Domains

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption during the spring of 2020. Many college students were told to leave campus at spring break and to complete the semester remotely. This study evaluates effects of this disruption on student well-being. A sample of 148 students (86.5% female, 49.3% White) completed measures of psychological symptoms, perceived stress, and alcohol use during the spring 2020 semester at a university in the southeastern U.S. Their results were compared to those of 240 students (87.9% female, 64.2% White) who completed the same measures in the fall 2019 semester. Participants in spring 2020 reported more mood disorder symptoms, perceived stress, and alcohol use than did pre-pandemic participants. Worry about COVID-19 was negatively associated with well-being in multiple domains. Additionally, White students reported a greater effect of the pandemic on well-being than did African American students. Young adults appear to be less vulnerable to the most serious medical complications associated with COVID-19 but nonetheless experience psychological effects from the pandemic. Universities and practitioners who work with college students can help young adults manage their symptoms and avoid behaviors like risky alcohol use when confronted with stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals The Remote Food Photography Method and SmartIntake App for the Assessment of Alcohol Use in Young Adults: Feasibility Study and Comparison to Standard Assessment Methodology

10.2196/10460 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. e10460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tera L Fazzino ◽  
Corby K Martin ◽  
Kelsie Forbush
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
Food Photography ◽  
Photography Method

Background Heavy drinking is prevalent among young adults and may contribute to obesity. However, measurement tools for assessing caloric intake from alcohol are limited and rely on self-report, which is prone to bias. Objective The purpose of our study was to conduct feasibility testing of the Remote Food Photography Method and the SmartIntake app to assess alcohol use in young adults. Aims consisted of (1) quantifying the ability of SmartIntake to capture drinking behavior, (2) assessing app usability with the Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ), (3) conducting a qualitative interview, and (4) comparing preference, usage, and alcohol use estimates (calories, grams per drinking episode) between SmartIntake and online diet recalls that participants completed for a parent study. Methods College students (N=15) who endorsed a pattern of heavy drinking were recruited from a parent study. Participants used SmartIntake to send photographs of all alcohol and food intake over a 3-day period and then completed a follow-up interview and the CSUQ. CSUQ items range from 1-7, with lower scores indicating greater usability. Total drinking occasions were determined by adding the number of drinking occasions captured by SmartIntake plus the number of drinking occasions participants reported that they missed capturing. Usage was defined by the number of days participants provided food/beverage photos through the app, or the number of diet recalls completed. Results SmartIntake captured 87% (13/15) of total reported drinking occasions. Participants rated the app as highly usable in the CSUQ (mean 2.28, SD 1.23). Most participants (14/15, 93%) preferred using SmartIntake versus recalls, and usage was significantly higher with SmartIntake than recalls (42/45, 93% vs 35/45, 78%; P=.04). Triple the number of participants submitted alcohol reports with SmartIntake compared to the recalls (SmartIntake 9/15, 60% vs recalls 3/15, 20%; P=.06), and 60% (9/15) of participants reported drinking during the study. Conclusions SmartIntake was acceptable to college students who drank heavily and captured most drinking occasions. Participants had higher usage of SmartIntake compared to recalls, suggesting SmartIntake may be well suited to measuring alcohol consumption in young adults. However, 40% (6/15) did not drink during the brief testing period and, although findings are promising, a longer trial is needed.

scholarly journals Public College Students’ Perception of Underage Drinking In Nigeria: Analysis of Current Issues

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Olujide A. Adekeye ◽  
Florence Omumu ◽  
Olufunke O. Chenube ◽  
Emmanuel O. Amoo ◽  
Sussan O. Adeusi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Underage Drinking ◽  
Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽  
World Health ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Survey Method

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among youths in Nigerian. Currently, underage drinking has become a serious public health problem in most colleges and despite the health and safety risk, consumption of alcohol is rising. Having recourse to the public health objective on alcohol by the World Health organization, which is to reduce the health burden caused by the harmful use of alcohol, thereby saving lives and reducing injuries, this study explored the nature of alcohol use among college students, binge drinking and the consequences of alcohol consumption. Secondary school students are in a transition developmentally and this comes with its debilitating effects such as risky alcohol use which affects their health and educational attainment (Loukas, Cance, & Batanova, 2016; Adekeye, 2012). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 809 college students (ages 14–20 years) using the research survey method. For data collection, an adapted and validated version of the youth questionnaire on underage drinking was employed.  RESULTS: Bivariate analysis found that more male students consume beer and spirits while wine was the reported preference of female students. Heavy episodic drinking (HED) was discovered among few male students while 50.2% of the sample had their first drink between ages 14 and 17. 81% of the sample had ever drank alcohol while more than half (65%) of the sample consume alcohol once in a month. Further analyses show prevalence of alcohol consumption, strategies to reducing alcohol use, reasons for underage drinking and effects of alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of underage students supported increasing efforts to control underage drinking. The students reported that an effective approach to decreasing alcohol use could be public presentations by people who have been seriously hurt or impaired by alcohol use. This will be a veritable public health intervention.

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