Extending upon student drinking patterns in an Australian population

Undergraduate student drinking and related harms at an Australian university: web-based survey of a large random sample

Background

There is considerable interest in university student hazardous drinking among the media and policy makers. However there have been no population-based studies in Australia to date. We sought to estimate the prevalence and correlates of hazardous drinking and secondhand effects among undergraduates at a Western Australian university.

Method

We invited 13,000 randomly selected undergraduate students from a commuter university in Australia to participate in an online survey of university drinking. Responses were received from 7,237 students (56%), who served as participants in this study.

Results

Ninety percent had consumed alcohol in the last 12 months and 34% met criteria for hazardous drinking (AUDIT score ≥ 8 and greater than 6 standard drinks in one sitting in the previous month). Men and Australian/New Zealand residents had significantly increased odds (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.9-2.3; OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 4.4-6.2) of being categorised as dependent (AUDIT score 20 or over) than women and non-residents. In the previous 4 weeks, 13% of students had been insulted or humiliated and 6% had been pushed, hit or otherwise assaulted by others who were drinking. One percent of respondents had experienced sexual assault in this time period.

Conclusions

Half of men and over a third of women were drinking at hazardous levels and a relatively large proportion of students were negatively affected by their own and other students' drinking. There is a need for intervention to reduce hazardous drinking early in university participation.

Trial registration

ACTRN12608000104358

Effect of television advertising of alcohol on alcohol consumption and intentions to drive

The alcohol consumption of 120 male and female college students was measured as they viewed a 90-min videotape of popular prime-time television programmes. Independent measures were the sex of the student, their drinker classification (light or moderate-heavy) and the number of alcohol advertisements (0, 6, 12) shown during the screening of the television programmes. Dependent measures were the number of drinks consumed, and the intentions of students to drive a motor vehicle after viewing the videotaped programmes. As predicted, males consumed more alcohol than females, and moderate-heavy drinkers consumed more than light drinkers. Male and female students who viewed six alcohol advertisements consumed more alcohol than students shown no alcohol advertisements or 12 alcohol advertisements. Analysis of intentions to drive after viewing the programmes revealed that the number of drinks consumed was not a significant covariate of driving intentions. Rather light drinkers of both sexes were less likely to intend to drive than moderate-heavy drinkers. Males exposed to alcohol advertisements were less likely to intend to drive than males who did not view alcohol advertisements. Different levels of exposure to alcohol advertisements did not influence the driving intentions of college females.

Perceptions of alcohol by student drinkers at university

To provide a framework in which to design alcohol interventions for university students that would take account of their subjective experiences and perspective, student drinkers were surveyed about selected alcohol-related behaviours and attitudes and asked to nominate what they considered to be the primary negative and positive aspects of alcohol use. The results revealed a concentration on short-term negative outcomes and an emphasis on sociability as the major benefit of consumption. Drinking specifically for intoxication was also a positive outcome for males in particular. The implications of these results for the preparation of meaningful interventions are discussed.

Fluid skills: drinking games and alcohol consumption among Australian university students

The objective of this study was to assess participation in drinking games among Australian university students; to determine the range of games played, their context and participant motivations; and to analyse the impact of games on alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences. We used a cross-sectional survey incorporating structured interviews and a self-administered questionnaire with students between 18 and 25 years of age at the University of Western Australia. This was a qualitative assessment of drinking game typology and contexts and participant motivation. Quantitative outcomes were rate and frequency of participation in drinking games; amount and rate of alcohol consumption during games; incidence of adverse outcomes following participation. Twenty-seven interview responses and 256 questionnaire responses were analysed for qualitative and quantitative outcomes, respectively. The qualitative analysis enabled categorisation of drinking games by skill and competitive nature, with varying influence on hazardous drinking. Common reported motivations for play included boredom, social pressure and social unease. The associated heavy drinking and possible hazards were well recognised but did not affect the decision to play. In the quantitative arm, most drinkers (74%) reported having participated in a drinking game. Game players reported playing an average of four drinking games in the previous 6 months. An average of six standard drinks was consumed during the most recent game. Pressure to participate from others was reported by 60% of game participants, while 50% reported that they had placed pressure on others to participate. Half (51%) reported an adverse outcome following participation. Loss of consciousness due to drinking was experienced or witnessed by 89% of game players, of whom 63% reported that the person was put to bed, while 54% reported that the person was watched. Participation in drinking games was common, and plays an important social role in this group. Drinking games were associated commonly with binge drinking and adverse outcomes. Future harm minimisation strategies targeting this group should address the particular risks of these games.

Binge drinking in university students: A test of the cognitive model

The aim of this study was to test the cognitive model [Addict. Behav. 29 (2004) 159] of binge drinking in university students. In Study 1, 202 participants completed the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire (DEQ), the Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (DRSEQ), and the Khavari Alcohol Test (KAT). The results showed that both alcohol expectancies (AEs) and drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) are needed to discriminate between binge, social, and heavy drinkers. In general, binge drinkers tend to have higher AEs than social drinkers, and have slightly lower DRSE. However, young social and binge drinkers can only be discriminated on the basis of their AEs. One hundred and fourteen students were recruited for the second study, to predict which individuals would engage in binge drinking during a 4-week self-monitoring period. Over 80% of predicted binge drinkers binged at least once during the monitoring period. These two studies confirmed the cognitive model of binge drinking, and thus, hold implications for the prevention of binge drinking among adolescents and young adults.

A cognitive model of binge drinking: the influence of alcohol expectancies and drinking refusal self-efficacy

While binge drinking-episodic or irregular consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol-is recognised as a serious problem affecting our youth, to date there has been a lack of psychological theory and thus theoretically driven research into this problem. The current paper develops a cognitive model using the key constructs of alcohol expectancies (AEs) and drinking refusal self-efficacy (DRSE) to explain the acquisition and maintenance of binge drinking. It is suggested that the four combinations of the AE and DRSE can explain the four drinking styles. These are normal/social drinkers, binge drinkers, regular heavy drinkers, and problem drinkers or alcoholics. Since AE and DRSE are cognitive constructs and therefore modifiable, the cognitive model can thus facilitate the design of intervention and prevention strategies for binge drinking.

Comparison of Three Methods to Assess Binge Consumption: One-Week Retrospective Drinking Diary, AUDIT, and Quantity/Frequency

Binge consumption contributes substantially to the occurrence of alcohol-related harm. Despite its importance, binge drinking is not well defined in the literature. The present study examines the proportions of respondents identified as binge drinkers by three separate measures: a 1-week retrospective drinking diary (RD), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and a quantity/frequency (QF) question. Overall, AUDIT detected the highest proportion of binge drinkers, followed by QF and RD. There was also good agreement between QF and RD, as well as QF and AUDIT. Ultimately, the measure of choice should be that which provides information most appropriate to the purposes of each study.

Alcohol consumption by undergraduate students

This study examines a prediction of alcohol consumption in a sample of 212 undergraduate students at a university in Sydney. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, given to students in Semesters one and two. During both semesters the college residents reported drinking significantly more alcohol than students living elsewhere, but during vacation the intake of the two groups was approximately equal. Higher alcohol consumption in Semester two was best predicted by higher Semester one intake, followed by more consumption by friends and higher parental occupation status. Female students residing on campus were those most likely to be drinking at hazardous levels. Results also indicated that a significant proportion of residential students were drinking at hazardous levels, and that prevention interventions may need to focus on changing the attitudes and behavior of the social group.

Young adult drinking behaviour: a comparison of diary and quantity-frequency measures

One hundred and twenty-two college students over a 2-week period completed a diary of their drinking habits and reasons for drinking, as well as a structured questionnaire about drinking attitudes and habits. Daily consumption based on the diary was compared with consumption based on a quantity-frequency measure within the questionnaire. There were no significant differences between estimates of consumption based on the two measures, and both measures were highly correlated. The questionnaire was more accurate in classifying drinkers and non-drinkers and led to better identification of those classified as hazardous and harmful drinkers. Sex differences in beliefs about drinking, as well as differences according to drinker classification, were found. Unsafe drinkers rated their drinking episodes as significantly more satisfying, comforting and exciting than other drinkers and were more likely to drink in order to get drunk and to relax. Their beliefs, attitudes and intentions also were more favourable towards the consumption of alcohol. Hotels or clubs were the most preferred locations for beer and spirits consumption while wine was consumed mainly at home. Most drinking took place within a mixed group or with close friends. Findings are discussed in terms of the relative advantages of both diary and quantity-frequency/questionnaire methods.