High-Risk Alcohol Use Associated with Past 30-Day Energy Drink Use

This study assessed the relationship of past 30-day energy drink consumption and measures of high-risk alcohol use. Participants included a sample of college students (N = 557) who completed a validated survey measuring the relationship of past 30-day energy drink and alcohol use. Past 30-day energy drink use was related to multiple high-risk alcohol behaviors including increased frequency of consumption, intoxication, heavy episodic drinking, and number of alcoholic drinks per occasion during the past 30-days (p<.001; r>0.26). Energy drink users reported consuming alcohol nearly twice as many days as non-energy drink users. Prevention initiatives should address the misuse of alcohol, while seeking to limitenergy drink use.

A Comparison of Self-Control Measures and Drug and Alcohol Use among College Students

Research has shown a link between drug and alcohol behaviors and self-control; however, much of the research focuses on only the general theory of crime (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990), without regard to Hirschi’s (2004) self-control theory. The purpose of the current study is to examine three measures of Hirschi’s self-control theory and to understand the link between Hirschi’s self-control theory and drug and alcohol behaviors. This study draws from a sample of undergraduate college students (N = 640) to examine the role of Hirschi’s self-control in the explanation of drug and alcohol behaviors. The current study uses a previous measure of Hirschi’s self-control [i.e., decisional self-control (alcohol)] and two measures (i.e., decisional self-control (cheat) and bond-based self-control) created by the researchers to analyze drug and alcohol behaviors. Results indicated that self-control based in social bonds (i.e., bond-based self-control) was significantly related to all drug and alcohol behaviors. The cost/salience scale measuring cheating behaviors [i.e., decisional self-control (cheat)] was significantly related to marijuana/hashish use, and the cost/salience scale measuring drinking and driving [i.e., decisional self-control (alcohol)] was significantly related to zero drug and alcohol behaviors. Results indicate that developing strong social bonds as a form of self-control can reduce the likelihood of drug and alcohol behaviors.

Is Alcohol Consumption Associated with Poor Perceived Academic Performance? Survey of Undergraduates in Finland

The relationship between academic performance and alcohol consumption among students remains inconsistent. We assessed this relationship, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics across seven faculties at the University of Turku (1177 undergraduates). An online questionnaire assessed: seven sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, year/discipline of study, accommodation type, being in intimate relationship, parental education, and income sufficiency); two perceived academic performance (students’ subjective importance of achieving good grades and students’ appraisal of their academic performance compared to peers); and six alcohol consumption behaviors (length of time, amount consumed, frequency, heavy episodic drinking, problem drinking, and possible alcohol dependence). Simple logistic regression assessed relationships between sociodemographic and academic variables with alcohol consumption behaviors; multiple logistic regression assessed the same relationships after controlling for all other variables. Students reported long duration and large amount of drinking (46% and 50%), high frequency of drinking (41%), heavy episodic drinking (66%), problem drinking (29%), and possible alcohol dependence (9%). After controlling, gender was associated with all alcohol consumption behaviors, followed by religiosity (associated with four alcohol behaviors), living situation, marital status, age (each associated with two alcohol behaviors), and parental education and year of study (each associated with one alcohol behavior). Study discipline, income sufficiency, importance of achieving good grades, and academic performance compared to peers were not associated with any alcohol behaviors. Universities need to assess problem drinking and alcohol use disorders among students. Prevention strategies are required to reduce risk. Health promotion efforts could focus on beliefs and expectations about alcohol and target student groups at risk for more efficient and successful efforts.

Parietal P3 and midfrontal theta prospectively predict the development of adolescent alcohol use

Background Subclinical adolescent alcohol use is highly prevalent and may have deleterious effects on important psychosocial and brain outcomes. Prior research has focused on identifying endophenotypes of pathological drinking, and the predictors of normative drinking remain understudied. This study investigated the incremental predictive value of two potential psychophysiological endophenotypes, P3 amplitude (an index of decision making) and midfrontal theta power (a correlate of attentional control), for prospectively predicting the expression and initiation of alcohol use emerging in adolescence. Methods A large (N = 594) epidemiological sample was prospectively assessed at ages 11/14/17. Alcohol/substance use was assessed at all ages via a computerized self-report inventory. EEG was recorded at age-14 during a visual oddball task to elicit P3 and theta. Results Reduced target-related P3 and theta at age-14 prospectively predicted drinking at age-17 independent of one another. Among alcohol-naive individuals at age-14, attenuated P3 and theta increased the odds of new-onset alcohol behaviors 3 years later. Importantly, the endophenotypes provided significant incremental predictive power of future non-clinical alcohol use beyond relevant risk factors (prior alcohol use; tobacco/illicit drug initiation; parental alcohol use disorder). Conclusions The current report is the first of our knowledge to demonstrate that deviations in parietal P3 and midfrontal theta prospectively predict the emergence of normative/non-pathological drinking. P3 and theta provide modest yet significant explanatory variance beyond prominent self-report and familial risk measures. Findings offer strong evidence supporting the predictive utility of P3 and theta as candidate endophenotypes for adolescent drinking.

Self-Reported Compensation Techniques for Carbohydrate, Exercise, and Alcohol Behaviors in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes on Insulin Pump Therapy

Studies have found variability in self-care behaviors in patients with type 1 diabetes, particularly when incorporating exercise and alcohol consumption. The objective of this study was to provide results from a survey to understand (1) insulin pump behaviors, (2) reported self-management behaviors for exercise and alcohol, and (3) perceptions of the effects of exercise and alcohol on blood glucose (BG) control. Fourteen participants from an outpatient endocrinology practice were recruited and administered an electronic survey. Compensation techniques for exercise and alcohol, along with reasons for employing the techniques were identified. Also identified were factors that participants said affected BG control with regard to exercise and alcohol. These results confirm the considerable inconsistency patients have about incorporating exercise and alcohol into decisions about self-management behaviors.