Alcohol use, related problems and psychological health in college students

Abstract This study examined the prevalence of alcohol use, alcohol-related problems, psychological distress, anxiety and depression mood and the relationship between these variables in a sample of 534 college students in the USA. In college men, 91% were current alcohol users (those who use alcohol at least once a month) and in college women 80% were current alcohol users (p<0.01). Current users were further divided into two groups, moderate and heavy, considering the amount and frequency of alcohol use. Beer was more popular among moderate users than heavy users in both sexes. Over 90% of both moderate and heavy users in both men and women had used hard liquor in the 30-day period preceding the survey. College men had more alcohol-related problems than did college women. Blackouts, getting into fights and not being able to meet school responsibilities were the common alcohol-related adverse outcomes reported by the participants. No associations were found between alcohol use and distress and between alcohol use and depressive mood. Mean values of the anxiety scores, however, were higher in moderate users in the male sample compared to that of the female sample. The findings have implications for theories of alcohol-related psychological health in college students.

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Examination of the Interaction of Drinking Motives and Personality on Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems Among College Students

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e712922011-001 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessica L. Martin ◽

Matthew P. Martens

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Drinking Motives ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

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Female and Male Perceptions of Ideal Body Shapes: Distorted Views Among Caucasian College Students

Psychology of Women Quarterly ◽

10.1111/j.1471-6402.1992.tb00240.x ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 69-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 140

Author(s):

Lawrence D. Cohn ◽

Nancy E. Adler

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

College Women ◽

College Men ◽

The Body ◽

Same Sex ◽

Female Figures ◽

Ideal Body ◽

Body Shapes ◽

Male Perceptions

Recent studies have demonstrated that women overestimate male preferences for thin female figures. This study examined whether women also overestimate the desirability of thin figures among female peers. Using body silhouettes employed by Fallon and Rozin (1985), 87 college women and 118 college men indicated the size of their own body figure, their ideal figure, the figure most attractive to other-sex peers, and the figure most attractive to same-sex peers. As predicted, the female silhouette that women selected as most attractive to same-sex peers was significantly thinner than the silhouette that women actually selected as most desirable. College men also misjudged the body preference of same-sex peers, exaggerating the extent to which other men perceived large physiques as ideal and desirable.

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GPA and Height are Related to Self-Acceptance Scores of Female College Students

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1992.74.2.354 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 354-354 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Beth M. Rienzi ◽

David J. Scrams ◽

Patty Uhles

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

College Women ◽

College Men ◽

Female College Students ◽

Female College ◽

Acceptance Scale ◽

Self Acceptance

Self-acceptance as measured on the Berger Self-acceptance Scale was positively related to GPA and negatively related to height for 36 college women. For 17 college men, height and GPA were not related to self-acceptance.

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A Comparison of Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems among Caucasian, Black, and Hispanic College Students

NASPA Journal ◽

10.1080/00220973.1990.11072176 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 27 (4) ◽

pp. 330-335

Author(s):

Gerardo M. Gonzalez

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Hispanic College Students ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

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A Preliminary Study Examining Self-Reported Invincibility, Alcohol Problems, and the Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants in College Students

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/00220426211037267 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002204262110372

Author(s):

Susan Kennedy ◽

Paula Millin ◽

Gary J. Kennedy

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Prescription Stimulants ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Nonmedical Use ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

The nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMUPS) is becoming more common among college students. Identifying the variables associated with NMUPS is important for educational efforts and to promote wellness in vulnerable students. The present study examined the relationships between self-reported invincibility, alcohol problems, and NMUPS in 175 college students. Path analysis tested the hypotheses that males would report higher invincibility that would be related to alcohol use and alcohol problems. Using structural equation modeling, significant relationships were found between invincibility and alcohol-related problems. Alcohol problems may be related to NMUPS. A total effect of invincibility, mediated by alcohol use, may be a path whereby invincibility positively influences NMUPS. Students reporting high levels of invincibility may be at risk for the NMUPS and might benefit from efforts regarding the potential harmful consequences of taking these substances without a prescription.

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Motives for Alcohol and Marijuana Use as Predictors of Use and Problem Use Among Young Adult College Students

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/0022042620917101 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 50 (4) ◽

pp. 359-377

Author(s):

Akilah Patterson ◽

Milkie Vu ◽

Regine Haardörfer ◽

Michael Windle ◽

Carla J. Berg

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Young Adult ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Problem Drinking ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Problem Alcohol Use ◽

And Coping ◽

Alcohol Users ◽

Problem Alcohol

This study examined (a) differences between alcohol-only users and alcohol–marijuana co-users and (b) motives for use in relation to alcohol and marijuana use and problem use. Spring 2016 data among 1,870 past 4-month alcohol users (63.6% female, 69.1% White) from seven Georgia colleges/universities were analyzed cross-sectionally and with regard to problem use measured 4 months later. Correlates of co-use ( n = 345; vs. alcohol-only use, n = 1,525) included greater alcohol and marijuana use frequency, problem drinking and marijuana use, and alcohol use motives ( p’s < .05). Controlling for covariates, alcohol use frequency correlated with greater marijuana use frequency and Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives, but lower Conformity alcohol use motives ( p’s < .001); greater Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives ( p’s < .01) predicted problem alcohol use. Marijuana use frequency correlated with greater Coping and Expansion marijuana use motives ( p’s < .05); greater Expansion marijuana use motives ( p = .005) predicted problem marijuana use. College-based substance use interventions should target Coping and Self-enhancement alcohol use motives and Expansion marijuana use motives.

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Prevalence of Alcohol Use in Istanbul

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.2003.92.3c.1081 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 92 (3_suppl) ◽

pp. 1081-1088 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yildiz Akvardar ◽

Ahmet Turkcan ◽

Umit Yazman ◽

Sema Aytaçlar ◽

Gul Ergor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Age Group ◽

Risky Drinking ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Problem Drinkers ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Cage Questionnaire ◽

Alcohol Related Problems ◽

Current Alcohol

The current research assessed the prevalence of alcohol use in Istanbul, Turkey along with characteristics and severity of related problems. The data were collected from structured interviews including the CAGE Questionnaire to eliminate the severity of alcohol-related problems of 1,550 residents (743 women, 807 men) of Istanbul, ages 12 to 65 years. Current alcohol use was 25.6% (397 persons, 118 women and 279 men), including 15.9% of the women and 34.5% of the men. 67% reported never having used alcohol. The rate of alcohol use was highest in the 40- to 49-yr. age group; the onset of use was reported as most common for the 16- to 19-yr.-olds. Prevalence of risky drinking was 6.8% (106 persons). Men were more likely to have an earlier initiation to alcohol use, to consume more [5.2 standard drinks (SD = 3.4) vs 3.6 standard drinks ( SD = 2.5)] and be problem drinkers (31.5% vs 15.2%) than women. Prevalence of alcohol use seems to be relatively low in Istanbul. Data on characteristics of alcohol use are important in estimating groups at risk for problems and in planning prevention strategies.

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Subjective Ratings of Prospective Memory Deficits in Chronic Alcohol Users

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.106.3.905-917 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 106 (3) ◽

pp. 905-917 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jonathan Ling ◽

Thomas M. Heffernan ◽

Kathryn Luczakiewicz ◽

Richard Stephens

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Prospective Memory ◽

Future Research ◽

Everyday Memory ◽

Memory Assessment ◽

Memory Problems ◽

Heavy Users ◽

Other Substances ◽

Heavy Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Users

Previous research showing everyday memory is impaired by heavy alcohol use may have underestimated the cognitive impairment of heavy users because drinkers consuming over the recommended limits for safe drinking have often been treated as a homogeneous group, often with a low threshold for inclusion. The current study investigated whether the reported linear relationship applies to participants consuming alcohol significantly above recommended limits. The everyday memory of 80 participants (43 men; modal age, 31–35 years) was investigated using the Prospective Memory Questionnaire. Participants also detailed their average weekly intake of alcohol and other substances. Current heavy users of alcohol (who consumed on average over 25 units per week) reported more memory problems than low (1–9 units per week) or medium users (10–25 units per week). Participants undergoing counselling for alcohol use reported more deficits than low or medium drinkers, but fewer than current heavy drinkers. Possible reasons for this were discussed. Strengths and limitations of subjective approaches to memory assessment were discussed as well as suggestions for future research.

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Audience Recall of AIDS PSAs Among U.S. and International College Students

Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly ◽

10.1177/107769909707400102 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 7-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jung-Sook Lee ◽

William R. Davie

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Experimental Study ◽

Cultural Identity ◽

College Women ◽

College Men ◽

Prevention Messages ◽

Emotional Appeals ◽

International College ◽

And Gender ◽

The U.S

Results from an experimental study show that the audience recall of AIDS PSAs is related to message appeal types, cultural identity, and gender. PSA messages with strong emotional appeals are better remembered by college students than the rational appeal messages. The U.S. viewers recall more of the AIDS prevention messages than the international participants. Results also show that college women recall more AIDS PSA messages than college men in general, and emotional AIDS message appeals in particular. The pattern indicates an exact reversal of differences between two message-appeal types for each gender.

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