Prevalence of binge drinking and associated behaviours among 3286 college students in France.

BACKGROUND: Studies conducted on characteristics of binge drinking and associated behaviours in college student populations are scarce especially in France. Hence, it is important to identify risk factors for binge drinking at university, especially those which may be changed. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of binge drinking and associated behaviours across a large sample of college students in Upper Normandy (France). METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed between November 2009 and February 2013 and data on socioeconomic characteristics and behavioural risk factors were collected: alcohol (consumption and misuse of alcohol, occasional and frequent binge drinking), tobacco, cannabis, cyberaddiction, stress and depression. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was filled out by college student volunteers from Upper Normandy (France) either online or by paper questionnaire. Analyses were performed using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 3286 students were included. The mean (Standard Deviation (SD)) age of students was 20.8 years (SD = 2.1) with a male-female ratio of 0.60. The prevalence of binge drinking in the never, occasional and frequent categories was respectively 34.9%, 51.3%, and 13.8%. The mean number of units of alcohol consumed per week (except BD episodes) was 0.78 for never, 3.7 for occasional and 10.5 for frequent binge drinkers (p < 0.0001). A positive relation was observed between frequent binge drinking and the following: male gender (AOR 4.77 95% CI (3.43-6.63); p < 0.0001), living in rented accommodation AOR 1.70 95% CI (1.21-2.40; p < 0.0001), attending business school AOR 4.72 95% CI (2.76-8.08; p < 0.0001), regular practice of sport AOR 1.70 95% CI (1.24-2.34; p = 0.001), smoking AOR 5.89 95% CI (4.03-8.60; p < 0.0001), occasional cannabis use AOR 12.66 95% CI (8.97-17.87;p < 0.0001), and alcohol abuse AOR 19.25 95% CI (13.4-27.72; p < .0001). A negative association was observed between frequent binge drinking and grant holder status, living in couples, and stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the spread of binge drinking among college students and identifies student populations at risk: male gender, living in rented accommodation, regular practice of sport, and other risk behaviours such as use of tobacco, cannabis and alcohol. These behaviours increase with the frequency of binge drinking.

Eating Disorders and Associated Health Risks Among University Students.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of eating disorders among university students and its relationship to behavioral characteristics and substance use. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study collected socioeconomic characteristics and behavioral risk. SETTING: University of Upper Normandy, France. PARTICIPANTS: University student volunteers. PHENOMENON OF INTEREST: The Sick, Control, One stone, Fat, Food (SCOFF) screening test was used to identify subjects with eating disorders by a confidential questionnaire self-administered either online or on paper. ANALYSIS: Multivariate logistic regression models with P < .05 considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 3,457 students were included with a male-to-female ratio of 0.57. The prevalence of positive SCOFF screening was 20.5% among students. A positive relation between the positive SCOFF was observed with female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.28-3.89; P < .001), stress (AOR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.09-1.12; P < .001), depression (AOR, 8.62; 95% CI, 3.37-22.10; P < .001) alcohol abuse problems (AOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.20-1.95; P = .006), and risk of cyber-addiction (AOR, 5.09; 95% CI, 2.69-9.62; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Eating disorders are highly prevalent among university students in France and associated with other behavior risks, stress, and depression. It might prove necessary in the future to screen students with the SCOFF questionnaire upon entry to the university to inform student about the risk of eating disorders and advise them to consult with their general practitioner.

Validation of the French version of SCOFF questionnaire for screening of eating disorders among adults.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate and validate a French version of the English SCOFF questionnaire for the screening of eating disorders (ED) in a student population. METHODS: The translation and back-translation method were employed for adaptation of the French version of SCOFF (SCOFF-F). SCOFF-F paper questionnaire was given to female students attending yearly evaluation in the University Preventive Medicine Department. After completing the SCOFF-F, each student was evaluated by one ED specialist blinded to SCOFF-F results. The validated French version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and DSM-IV criteria for ED were employed as diagnostic references. RESULTS: A total of 400 women were evaluated. ED were diagnosed in 37 (9.3%) of students: eight (2%) cases of anorexia nervosa (AN) and 29 (7.3%) of bulimia nervosa (BN). Diagnostic threshold was fixed at two positive answers with a sensitivity of 94.6%, a specificity of 94.8% and an area under the curve of 96.2%. Positive and negative predictive values for ED were 65 and 99%. Similar figures were obtained separately for AN and BN. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the French version of SCOFF questionnaire is accurate and reliable for the detection of women with EDs in this high-risk student population.