Factor structure, group invariance, and concurrent validity of scores from the college eating and drinking behavior scale among U.S. college students.

Food and alcohol disturbance (FAD) refers to the intersection of alcohol- and eating-related motives and behaviors, such as restricting food intake before or during alcohol use to offset caloric intake or to enhance intoxication. Valid assessment is critical for advancing research on FAD. We tested the factor structure, group invariance, and concurrent validity of the College Eating and Drinking Behavior Scale (CEDBS) in a large college student sample (n = 2610; Mage = 20.95, SD = 4.65; 71.8% female; 77% White; 86% non-Hispanic). Participants completed measures assessing antecedents of alcohol use (i.e., protective behavioral strategies and drinking motives), negative alcohol-related consequences, alcohol use severity, and risk for eating disorder. The 3-factor model of the 21-item CEDBS provided an adequate fit to the data (e.g., CFI = 0.916). These factors include Alternative Methods (4 items; "Use laxative prior to drinking alcohol"), Offset Calories (7 items; "Restrict calories prior to drinking to help maintain your figure"), and Quicker Intoxication (10 items; "Not eating before drinking alcohol because it gives you the best buzz"). The CEDBS was scalar invariant across subgroups of participants based on age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and political orientation. Quicker Intoxication was most strongly related to risk factors and negative consequences for alcohol (r = 0.204-0.379, all ps < 0.01), and Offset Calories was most strongly related to risk for eating disorders (r = 0.349, p < .01). These findings further support the CEDBS to assess FAD among college students.

Individual Differences in Substance Use Motives, Trauma, and Stress Among College-Based Polysubstance Users.

Background: Co-use of alcohol and other drugs within a certain time frame (i.e., polysubstance use) has become increasingly prevalent, particularly among college-aged individuals, but understanding motives for co-use remains limited. Polysubstance use has been associated with a higher likelihood of negative health consequences as compared to single substance use. Objectives: The current study examined associations between motivations for using alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis among college students who use multiple substances versus students using only one substance or no substances. Additionally, we examined the effect of trauma and daily stress on polysubstance use in self-report data from individuals (N=134) participating in the MAPme Study. Results: First, the observed prevalence of polysubstance use was greater than expected by chance, with most individuals co-using alcohol and cannabis. "Alcohol and Other Drug Users" were more frequently motivated to drink for social (ß=0.27, CI=[0.07, 0.44]), enhancement (ß=0.26, CI=[0.01, 0.42]) and coping (ß=0.21, CI=[0.06, 0.47]) reasons compared to individuals who consumed alcohol alone. Conclusions: Individual differences in motivations for use were partly explained by frequency of alcohol use and alcohol problem severity, but not by history of trauma or stress. Finally, while patterns of correlations among motivations for use across substances suggested a general tendency to be motivated to use substances for similar reasons, this was not supported by confirmatory factor models. Overall, shared motives may inform potential behavioral patterns for co-use of substances during college and might advise future treatment efforts.

Emerging adults tend to use multiple substances, particularly alcohol and cannabisCorrelation patterns suggest shared motives within rather than across substancesAlcohol problem severity and alcohol frequency predict motives for use.

College Students' Day-to-Day Maladaptive Drinking Responses to Stress Severity and Stressor-Related Guilt and Anger.

BACKGROUND: Stress is a common part of college students' daily lives that may influence their physical activity (PA) and alcohol use. Understanding features of daily stress processes that predict health behaviors could help identify targets for just-in-time interventions. PURPOSE: This study used intensive longitudinal data to examine whether prior day stress processes predict current day PA or alcohol use. METHODS: Participants (N=58, Mage=20.5, 59% women, 70% White) were 18-to-25-year-old students who engaged in binge drinking at least twice monthly and used cannabis or tobacco in the past year. They wore activity (activPAL4) and alcohol (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor) monitors for 11 days to assess daily PA (e.g., step counts) and alcohol use (e.g., drinking day), and completed daily surveys about yesterday's stress, including number of stressors (i.e., frequency), stressor intensity (i.e., severity), and frequency of affective states (e.g., guilt). Multilevel models examined prior day stress predicting current day PA or alcohol use. RESULTS: Participants had higher odds of current day drinking (odds ratio=1.21) and greater area under the curve (B=0.08) when they experienced greater than usual stress severity the prior day. Participants had higher current day peak transdermal alcohol concentration (B=0.12) and area under the curve (B=0.11) when they more frequently experienced guilt due to stressors the prior day. CONCLUSIONS: College students' unhealthy response of increasing alcohol use due to stress could adversely impact health outcomes. There is a critical need for interventions addressing students' ability to effectively manage and respond to the stress-inducing, daily demands of student life.

College students experience stress regularly, which may influence their physical activity (PA) and drinking behaviors. Understanding how daily stress predicts health behaviors could be useful for stress-reduction interventions. This study examined whether prior day stress predicted current day PA or alcohol use. Participants (N = 58) were 18- to 25-year-old college students who binge drank at least twice per month and used cannabis or tobacco in the past year. They wore PA and alcohol sensors for 11 days to assess daily PA and alcohol use, and completed daily surveys about yesterday's stress, including the number of stressors experienced (i.e., frequency), stressor intensity (i.e., severity), and mood responses related to stress (anger, anxiety, guilt, sadness). Participants were 21% more likely to drink and drank at higher intensity when they experienced greater than usual stress severity the prior day. Participants had higher current day alcohol use intensity when they more frequently experienced guilt due to stressors the prior day. College students' unhealthy response of increasing alcohol use due to stress could negatively impact short- and long-term health outcomes. There is a critical need for interventions addressing students' ability to effectively manage and respond to the stress-inducing, daily demands of student life.

Alcohol consumption and binge drinking among university students in a city in the state of Rondônia / Consumo de álcool e prática de binge drinkingentre universitários em uma cidade no interior de Rondônia

Objective: to verify the prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption among the academics of a higher educa-tion institution located in the interior of the state of Rondônia. Methods: cross-sectional and observational study with all students enrolled in the institution in 2017. Were used the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test to identify alcohol consumption and other classes of psychoactive substances. To characterize binge drinking was adopted the definition by the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism and, and exclusion criteria was defined the questionnaire was not filled in completely and the request of the participant. The data were ana-lyzed with SPSS program 17. The univariate analysis was used to describe quantitative variables and the bivariate analysis to verify the association between the use of alcoholic beverages and the independent variables (sex, age) the level of significance was set at 5%. Results: 518 subjects participated in the study, with a mean age of 23.1 years, of which 355 (68.5%) were female and 163 (31.5%) were male. Among these, 385 (74.3%) stated that they consume alcoholic beverages, 282 (54.4%) started consuming less than 18 years and 239 (57%) reported practic-ing BD. Among BD practitioners, 48.9% do so at least once a month.Conclusion: there was a high prevalence of alcohol consumption and binge drinking among university students, which predisposes these individuals to physical, emotional, and social problems. Such findings should serve as a warning for the need for public policies aimed at preventing alcohol consumption that begins during adolescence (AU)

Objetivo: verificar a prevalência e o padrão de consumo de álcool entre acadêmicos de uma instituição de ensino superior do interior do estado de Rondônia. Método: estudo transversal e observacional com todos os estudantes matriculados no ano de 2017. Foi utilizado o Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test para identificar o consumo de álcool e outras classes de substâncias psicoativas. Para a caracterização de binge drinkingadotou-se a definição do National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism e, como critérios de exclusão, definiu-se o não preenchimento completo do questionário e solicitação do participante. Os dados foram analisados com o auxílio do programa SPSS 17. Procedeu-se à análise univariada para descrição das variáveis quantitativas e análise bivariada para verificar a associação entre o uso de bebidas alcoólicas e as variáveis independentes (sexo, idade), adotan-do-se o nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: participaram do estudo 518 indivíduos, com média de idade de 23,1 anos, sendo 355 (68,5%) do sexo feminino e 163 (31,5%) masculino. Dentre esses, 385 (74,3%) afirmaram que consomem bebidas alcoólicas, 282 (54,4%) iniciaram o consumo com menos de 18 anos e 239 (57%) referiram praticar o BD. Entre os praticantes de BD, 48,9% o fazem pelo menos uma vez ao mês.Conclusão: observou-se elevada prevalência de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas e de prática de binge drinking entre os universitários, o que predispõe esses indivíduos a problemas físicos, emocionais e sociais. Tais achados devem alertar para a necessidade de políticas públicas que visem a prevenção de consumo de álcool que se inicia durante a adolescência (AU)

The association between problematic alcohol use, risk perceptions, and e-cigarette use.

Background: Use of e-cigarettes among college students has escalated, in part due to the perception that they are less harmful than traditional cigarettes and have other benefits such as circumventing smoking bans. College students also drink more heavily than other age groups, and e-cigarettes are associated with alcohol, especially among students who engage in problematic drinking.Objective: The present study sought to determine if an interaction between problematic alcohol use and increased perceptions of benefits and decreased perceptions of risks of e-cigarettes would predict whether participants had ever used an e-cigarette.Method: The present study included 1,133 undergraduate college students surveyed between November 2014 - November 2016. Participants were primarily Caucasian (82.3%) and female (78.1%). Participants completed questionnaires regarding demographics, smoking status/history, and expectancies.Results: Higher levels of problematic drinking and higher perceived benefits of e-cigarette use were both associated with having tried e-cigarettes. This relationship was significant even when controlling for several covariates such as cigarettes smoking status. However, there was not a significant interaction between problematic alcohol use and perceived benefits or risks of e-cigarettes. There was also no relationship between risk perceptions of e-cigarettes and e-cigarettes use.Conclusions: Both problematic alcohol use and perception of benefits of e-cigarettes were associated with having tried an e-cigarette. This finding is problematic as the use of e-cigarettes may influence further engagement in risky behaviors including problematic drinking or transitioning to regular cigarette use. Thus, it is important to develop interventions to help college students develop more accurate risk perceptions about e-cigarettes.

Validity studies of the scale of positive and negative perceptions about alcohol effects / Estudos de validade da escala de percepções positivas e negativas sobre efeitos do álcool

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the process of elaboration and validation of the Scale of Perceptions about Alcohol Consumption in Higher Education Students in a Portuguese sample, considering the relationship between alcohol use rates and students' perceptions about the effects of this consumption. METHODS The validation study included 531 Portuguese college freshmen who answered the instrument, which is composed of five items that express positive perceptions and five items that express negative perceptions about the effects of alcohol consumption. RESULTS Evidence of content validity, internal structure and external variables were obtained. The results of the factor analysis confirm the distribution of positive and negative perceptions by two different factors according to the theoretical model. Adequate internal consistency indexes were obtained for each dimension. The data obtained showed expected correlations between the perceptions and consumption behaviors of the students, indicating evidence of criterion validity of the scale. Moreover, the study showed that different consumption patterns between men and women, with higher alcohol consumption in the students' households and restaurants or cafés by male students, in addition to the similarity in the consumption pattern between the two genders in parties and bars or nightclubs. CONCLUSION The data obtained show the validity of the instrument. In the discussion, the article presents considerations about the responsibility of higher education institutions in the prevention and reduction in consumption rates among their students.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Considerando a relação entre as taxas de uso de álcool e as percepções dos estudantes sobre os efeitos desse consumo, descrever o processo de elaboração e validação da Escala de Percepções sobre o Consumo de Álcool em Estudantes do Ensino Superior em uma amostra portuguesa. MÉTODOS Participaram do estudo de validade 531 estudantes portugueses do primeiro ano do ensino superior que responderam ao instrumento, composto por cinco itens que expressam percepções positivas e cinco itens que expressam percepções negativas sobre os efeitos do consumo de álcool. RESULTADOS Evidências de validade de conteúdo, de estrutura interna e baseadas em variáveis externas foram obtidas. Os resultados da análise fatorial confirmam a distribuição das percepções positivas e negativas por dois fatores diferenciados em acordo com o modelo teórico de partida. Índices adequados de consistência interna foram obtidos para cada dimensão. Os dados obtidos mostraram correlações esperadas entre as percepções e os comportamentos de consumo dos estudantes, indicando evidências de validade de critério da escala. Em acréscimo, o estudo indicou haver padrões de consumo diferenciados entre os sexos, registando-se maior consumo de álcool nas residências e nos restaurantes ou cafés por parte dos homens, além de similaridade entre os dois sexos no padrão de consumo em festas e bares ou discotecas. CONCLUSÃO Os dados obtidos evidenciam a validade do instrumento. Na discussão dos dados, o artigo apresenta considerações sobre a responsabilidade das instituições de ensino superior na prevenção e redução das taxas de consumo entre a sua população estudantil.

Private self-consciousness, self-reflection, insight and alcohol consumption among young people and adults / Autoconsciência privada, autorreflexão, insight e consumo de álcool entre jovens e adultos / Autoconciencia privada, autorreflexión, insight y consumo de alcohol entre jóvenes y adultos

Private self-consciousness is a relevant metacognitive capacity in the self-regulation process, with possible implications in alcohol consumption. This research verified the influence of self-reflection and insight, dimensions of private self-consciousness, on drinking behavior. A total of 523 Brazilians, aged from 20 to 39 years old, participated in a survey by answering the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale and the AUDIT test. The results showed that women have higher levels of self-reflection, whereas men have higher levels of insight. With regard to alcohol consumption, young people drink at higher risk levels than adults. Self-reflection and insight were negatively correlated with alcohol consumption. Age and gender differences in the intensity of the correlation between variables and the influence of environmental factors on the regulation of drinking behavior are discussed. (AU)

A autoconsciência privada é uma capacidade metacognitiva relevante no processo de autorregulação, com possível implicação no consumo de álcool. Esta pesquisa objetivou verificar a relação da autorreflexão e do insight, dimensões da autoconsciência privada, no comportamento de beber. Participaram 523 brasileiros, de 20 a 39 anos que responderam à Escala de Autorreflexão e Insight e ao teste AUDIT. Os resultados indicaram que mulheres apresentam níveis mais elevados de autorreflexão, enquanto homens, de insight. Quanto ao consumo de álcool, jovens bebem em níveis considerados mais arriscados do que adultos. A autorreflexão e o insight correlacionaram negativamente com o consumo de álcool. Diferenças etárias e de gênero na intensidade da correlação entre variáveis e a influência de fatores ambientais na regulação do beber são discutidas. (AU)

La autoconciencia privada es una capacidad metacognitiva relevante en el proceso de autorregulación, con posibles implicaciones en el consumo de alcohol. Esta investigación verificó la relación entre autorreflexión e Insight, dimensiones de la autoconciencia privada, en el comportamiento de beber. Participaron 523 brasileños (20 a 39 años) que respondieron la Escala de Autorreflexión e Insight y el test AUDIT. Los resultados estadísticos mostraron que las mujeres tienen mayores niveles de autorreflexión, mientras que los hombres de Insight. En cuanto a consumo de alcohol, los jóvenes beben en niveles considerados más arriesgados que los adultos. Autorreflexión e Insight se correlacionaron negativamente con el consumo de alcohol. Se discuten las diferencias de edad y género con relación a la intensidad de correlación entre las variables y la influencia de factores ambientales en la regulación de beber. (AU)

Identifying trajectories of alcohol use in a sample of secondary school students in Ontario and Alberta: longitudinal evidence from the COMPASS study. / Établissement des trajectoires de consommation d'alcool chez un échantillon d'élèves du secondaire de l'Ontario et de l'Alberta : données probantes longitudinales tirées de l'étude COMPASS.

INTRODUCTION: Despite evidence indicating a rapid progression in use of alcohol during adolescence, little is known about the ways patterns of drinking develop over time. This study investigated patterns of alcohol use within a cohort of youth in Ontario and Alberta and the probability of changes between patterns. METHODS: The sample consists of two-year linked longitudinal data (school year 2013/14 to 2014/15) from 19 492 students in Grades 9 to 12 in 89 secondary schools across Ontario and Alberta, Canada, who participated in the COMPASS study. The latent class analysis used two self-reported items about the frequency of drinking (measured as none, monthly, weekly, or daily use) and the frequency of binge drinking (measured as none, less than or once a month, 2-4 times a month, or more than once week) to characterize patterns of alcohol use. The effects of gender, ethnicity and cannabis and cigarette use on alcohol use patterns were examined. RESULTS: The study identified four drinking patterns: non-drinker, periodic drinker (reported monthly drinking and no binge drinking), low-risk drinker (reported monthly drinking and limited binge drinking) and high-risk regular drinker (reported drinking 1-3 times a week and binge drinking 2-4 times a month). Non-drinker was the most prevalent pattern at baseline (55.1%) and follow-up (39.1%). Periodic drinkers had the highest likelihood of an increase in alcohol consumption, with 40% moving to the low-risk pattern. A notable proportion of participants returned to a lower severity pattern or transitioning out of drinking. CONCLUSION: There are four distinct youth alcohol-use patterns. The high probability of transitioning to drinking during the secondary school years suggests the need for preventive interventions in earlier stages of use, before drinking becomes habitual.

Characterization of Student Drinking Behaviors at the Beginning of the First Academic Year at One University in Southern Italy.

It is well recognized that both college and noncollege students are at-risk age groups for alcohol consumption. We investigated the alcohol consumption habits of undergraduate students with an emphasis on binge drinking. Participants (N = 809, 61.2% female) were freshmen attending courses at one of the main universities of southern Italy. They were asked to fill out a paper-and-pencil questionnaire that was administered between October 2017 and January 2018. Nearly 90% of the questioned students reported drinking alcohol during the 12 months before the survey. Among them, 31.4% of female students and 41.5% of male students engaged in binge drinking, mainly once a month; binge drinkers preferred highly alcoholic beverages during parties, underestimated the alcoholic content of their drinks, started drinking alcohol at a younger age than nonbinge drinkers, and drank weekly and between meals. Binge drinkers started smoking earlier than their peers, and a great number of them consumed illicit drugs. Moreover, 30.3% of female and 34.8% of male nonbinge drinkers declared that they consumed 6 or more units of alcohol in one occasion, making them unaware binge drinkers. Furthermore, approximately 50% of students recognized that alcohol consumption has effects similar to those induced by illicit drugs but only considered their peers' drinking behavior to be risky.This study highlights that most students involved in this survey expose themselves to a risky lifestyle by heavy drinking and, most alarmingly, that some of them are not even aware of that.

Self-control and health-related behaviour: The role of implicit self-control, trait self-control, and lay beliefs in self-control.

OBJECTIVES: We tested unique contribution of trait self-control, implicit self-control, and lay beliefs in self-control beliefs to the prediction of health-related behaviours. We also tested whether relations between trait self-control and health-related behaviour, and between implicit self-control and health-related behaviours, were moderated by self-control beliefs. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, correlational. METHODS: Students (N = 176) completed self-report measures of trait self-control, lay beliefs that self-control is limited or non-limited, non-planning, participation in health-related behaviours (impulsive eating, impulsive drinking, exercise avoidance, watching diet, alcohol consumption, physical activity participation), and demographic variables. Participants also completed a measure of implicit self-control using an implicit association test. RESULTS: Analyses indicated significant negative relations between implicit self-control and impulsive drinking and alcohol consumption. We also found a positive relationship between implicit self-control and exercise behaviour, and a negative relationship between implicit self-control and impulsive eating, both of which fell marginally short of statistical significance. Trait self-control significantly predicted all behavioural measures and attenuated relations between implicit self-control and health-related behaviour. We found no relations between lay beliefs in self-control and health-related behaviour. Moderated path analyses revealed that lay beliefs in self-control moderated relations between trait self-control and impulsive drinking, implicit self-control and exercise avoidance, and implicit self-control and physical activity participation. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that trait self-control was a consistent correlate of health-related behaviour, while the effect sizes of relationships between implicit self-control and health-related behaviours were small. Strength of relations between trait self-control and health-related behaviours may depend on whether or not individuals believe self-control is limited. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Self-control represents individuals capacity to override impulses, break habits, and avoid temptations. Trait self-control is consistently and positively related to uptake of health-promoting behaviours (e.g., physical activity, healthy eating). Trait self-control is consistently and negatively related to health-compromising behaviours (e.g., alcohol consumption, unhealthy snacking). What does this study add? Proposes that self-control can also be measured implicitly, beyond individuals' awareness. Examined effects of implicit measures of self-control and self-reported trait self-control on multiple health behaviours. Effects of implicit self-control on health behaviours were small and subsumed by trait self-control. Effects of lay beliefs in self-control moderated effects of implicit and trait self-control on some health behaviours.

Are Co-users of Alcohol and Marijuana More Willing to Experience Consequences From Drinking? A Longitudinal Examination Among First-Year College Students.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol and marijuana co-users are at heightened vulnerability for experiencing a variety of negative alcohol use outcomes including heavier alcohol use and driving under the influence. The current study explored willingness to experience negative consequences as a potential factor underlying the association between co-user status and negative consequences in an effort to guide future intervention work. From a longitudinal study of first-year college students, we examined willingness to experience consequences at Time 2 as a mediator of co-user status at Time 1 and experience of negative consequences at Time 3. METHODS: First-year college student drinkers (n = 1,914) at a large university completed surveys in the fall and spring of their freshman year and the fall of their sophomore year. RESULTS: Alcohol and marijuana co-users reported higher willingness to experience consequences than alcohol-only users. Willingness to experience consequences partially explained the association between alcohol and marijuana couse and consequences. CONCLUSIONS: The current study was the first to compare co-users of alcohol and marijuana to alcohol-only users on willingness to experience consequences, and examine the role of willingness as a mediator between co-user status and consequences experienced. Co-users were more willing to experience adverse effects from drinking, in turn predicting more consequences. Intervention work targeting consequences may be less effective for co-users; thus, additional work is needed to identify other potential mechanisms for change for this at-risk group.

Predicting College Student Drinking and Smoking Intentions With Cognitively Accessible Attitudes and Norms.

Understanding the factors that make college students more likely to drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes is key to developing effective interventions in order to reduce these behaviors. This study sought to understand entering college students' intentions to engage in smoking and drinking behavior by examining the cognitive accessibility (ease of retrieval from memory) of attitudes and norms for drinking. A sample of 413 first-year college students living in on-campus residence halls participated in the study in the first 2 weeks of their first semester of college. Reaction time measures of attitudes and norms assessed the cognitive accessibility of these constructs. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted. Results indicated that the cognitive accessibility of both attitudes and peer injunctive norms predicted behavioral intentions to drink and smoke. Our findings indicate that when injunctive peer norms are accessible from memory, they are better predictors of drinking and smoking intentions than descriptive norms or injunctive family norms. Our work provides important guidance for interventions to reduce risky behavior in college students and suggests that emphasizing social costs of these behaviors may be a promising strategy.

Psychoactive substance use among first-year students in a Botswana University: pattern and demographic correlates.

BACKGROUND: Substance use amongst university students is a recognized problem worldwide. Few studies have been carried out in this group in Botswana. These studies have been mostly limited to the use of alcohol and tobacco. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the pattern of general substance use, its association with psychological distress and common socio-demographic factors among first-year undergraduates in a Botswana University. METHODS: A total of 401 students were interviewed using a modified W.H.O. student drug use questionnaire and the 12 item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) to assess the pattern of psychoactive substance use and its relationship with psychological distress amongst university students in Botswana. RESULTS: Alcohol was the most (31.9%) commonly used psychoactive substance. Age of debut for most psychoactive substances was between the ages of 15-18 years. Current use of alcohol (p = 0.045), amphetamine-type stimulants (p = 0.004) and benzodiazepines (p = 0.021) were associated with significant psychological distress. A positive relationship was observed between low participation in religious activities and substance use (OR = 4.63, 95%CI: 2.03-10.51), while a negative association was observed between not having a friend who uses drugs and substance use (OR = 0.44, 95%CI: 0.19-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant substance abuse problem in the undergraduate population in Botswana. Our findings followed the global trend, with alcohol being the most commonly used substance. Religious participation demonstrates potential to be one of the solutions to this problem, but how to harness its seemingly protective influences is a field for further study.

Heterogeneity of Pregamers by Consumption and Reinforcement Reasons: A Latent Profile Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pregaming is a common, high-risk drinking activity among college students that has been largely unchangeable despite targeted intervention approaches. Therefore, identifying profiles of pregamers could enhance understanding of the risks associated with this practice and inform intervention development. METHODS: This study identified subtypes of pregamers in undergraduates (N = 911; 60% female, 42.9% White) attending 3 U.S. universities in 2012. Self-report data assessed recent alcohol use (overall, heavy, and pregaming), pregaming motives, and demographics. Alcohol-related consequences were assessed via the Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire. RESULTS: Latent profile analysis using pregaming-specific indicators assessing motives (e.g., to avoid getting caught) and consumption (e.g., estimated pregaming blood alcohol concentration) yielded 5 unique profiles. Three profiles were characterized by pregaming on 50% or more of all drinking events that differed by pregaming consumption and motives: Instrumental (5.3%; heavy consumption, intoxication-driven motives), Global (16.0%; moderate consumption, indistinct motives), and Risk-averse (18.3%; moderate-to-heavy consumption, negatively reinforcing motives). Two profiles reported lower levels of pregaming: Occasional (32.4%; moderate consumption, indistinct motives) and Infrequent (28.0%; lowest pregaming involvement). Cross-profile differences were then examined for demographics, general drinking and pregaming-specific motives, and alcohol-related consequences. Profile comparisons indicated differences in overall alcohol consumption, ethnicity, gender, current living arrangements, Greek involvement, and a variety of alcohol-related consequences (ps < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, pregaming is a very heterogeneous behavior among college students in that some students utilize this drinking practice as a means to mitigate risk and others use it to promote intoxication. Results suggest that distinguishing pregamers by consumption as well as motives can facilitate the development of more tailored intervention approaches for students who engage in this high-risk practice.

Mindfulness as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol use and consequences.

One-third of college students report past-year heavy episodic drinking, making college student alcohol use an important area for continued research. Research has consistently linked early experiences of adversity to problematic substance use in adolescence and adulthood. Given the negative health consequences associated with heavy episodic drinking, it is imperative to identify mechanisms that contribute to this relation. Low levels of mindfulness have been linked to early adversity as well as impulsivity and alcohol use, therefore, the current study aims to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relation between early adversity and current alcohol use and consequences. Undergraduate students (N = 385) at a Midwestern university completed an online questionnaire assessing experiences of childhood adversity, trait mindfulness, and current alcohol use and related consequences. Results indicated that increased adverse experiences and lower levels of mindfulness predicted both increased alcohol consumption and consequences (ps < 0.025), with mindfulness mediating the relationships. Mindfulness is a predictor of alcohol outcomes and appears to mediate the relation between early adversity and alcohol use and consequences. Findings suggest that students with a history of adversity are more likely to exhibit lower levels of mindfulness, which may lead to an increase in alcohol consumption and consequences in early adulthood. Targeted alcohol intervention efforts that incorporate mindfulness skills may be particularly beneficial for those who have experienced early adversity.

Low rates of alcohol and tobacco use, strong cultural ties for Native American college students in the Southwest.

INTRODUCTION: College attendance is associated with an increased risk for substance use yet we know little about substance use among Native American college students and its regional variation. This study examined alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and their relation to gender, institution, age, and cultural involvement among Native American college students in the Southwest. METHODS: Native American community college and university students in a large Southwest city (N = 347) completed an online survey about past-month and lifetime substance use and involvement in cultural activities. RESULTS: Cultural involvement was related to less past-month substance use. In the past month, 43% drank alcohol, 27% binge drank, 20% used drugs, and 13% were current smokers. Males, community college students, and older individuals were more likely to have a positive CAGE-AID and have used drugs more than 100 times. Younger individuals were more likely to use marijuana in the past month. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight cultural strengths and comparatively low rates of tobacco and alcohol use among Native American college students in the Southwest.

Relationships between early alcohol experiences, drinker self-schema, and drinking and smoking in college students.

BACKGROUND: Drinking and smoking commonly co-occur in undergraduate students. Although an identity as a drinker is a known predictor of alcohol use and alcohol problems, and early evidence suggests that it also predicts smoking, the role of these behaviors in the development of an identity as a drinker is unknown. In this study, the authors conceptualized a drinker identity as an enduring memory structure referred to as a self-schema and conducted a preliminary investigation of the relationships between early drinking experiences, drinker self-schema, and alcohol and tobacco use in undergraduate students. METHODS: Three-hundred thirty undergraduates who reported current alcohol and tobacco use were recruited for an online survey study. Frequency of alcohol and tobacco use in the past 30 days, drinker self-schema, and early experiences with alcohol were measured. RESULTS: Structural equation modeling showed that parental alcohol problems were associated with early onset of drinking. Early onset of drinking and high school friends' drinking were associated with more alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in high school. Alcohol problems during high school were associated with high drinker self-schema scores, which were associated with high frequency of alcohol and tobacco use during college. The indirect effects through the drinker self-schema were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Although cross-sectional, this preliminary examination supports theoretical predictions that early alcohol experiences may contribute to development of the drinker self-schema, which, as expected, was positively associated with alcohol and tobacco use in college. Longitudinal studies that track the unfolding of drinking behavior and the contextual factors that are associated with it in the development of the drinker self-schema are essential to confirming the theoretical model. If supported, implications for intervention at different developmental stages to prevent early onset of drinking, limit adolescent alcohol use, and modify the development of a drinker self-schema may mitigate undergraduate drinking and smoking.

Intervenções via Internet para redução do consumo de álcool entre universitários: uma revisão sistemática / Internet-based alcohol interventions for college students: systematic review / Intervenciones por Internet para reducir el consumo de alcohol de los estudiantes universitarios: revisión sistemática

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar as principais modalidades de intervenções via Internet para limitar o uso de álcool por estudantes universitários e descrever os efeitos dessas intervenções sobre o consumo e as consequências do uso de álcool. Método Esta é uma revisão sistemática com artigos disponíveis nas bases PubMed, PsycINFO e SciELO. Foram utilizados os termos de busca alcohol drinking AND Internet, sem restrição de data ou idioma. Foram critérios de inclusão: ser estudo randomizado controlado com amostra de estudantes universitários, enfocar intervenções via Internet e avaliar os efeitos dessas intervenções sobre o consumo ou as consequências do uso de álcool. Resultados Foram analisados 36 artigos e identificadas duas modalidades principais de intervenção via Internet: feedbacks normativos personalizados (FNP, n=28) e intervenções multicomponentes (n=8). Doze estudos com FNP observaram redução no uso de álcool 3 meses após a intervenção. Intervenções multicomponentes reduziram o consumo e as consequências do uso. A intervenção mais avaliada foi o site AlcoholEdu, que reduziu o uso de álcool e as consequências do uso 6 meses após a intervenção. Conclusões FNP e o site AlcoholEdu foram as intervenções mais avaliadas entre os estudos selecionados e se mostraram eficazes na redução do consumo de álcool entre estudantes universitários. Essas estratégias são uma alternativa para ampliar o acesso de universitários a intervenções para limitar o uso de álcool.

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the main modalities of Internet-based interventions to limit alcohol use among university students, and to describe the effects of these interventions on alcohol use and related consequences. Methods A systematic review of PubMed, PsycINFO, and SciELO was performed using as search terms "alcohol drinking AND Internet," without date or language restrictions. Inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trial design, focus on college students and on Internet-based interventions, and evaluating the effects of the intervention on alcohol use or alcohol-related consequences. Results Thirty-six articles were analyzed. Two main intervention modalities were identified: personalized normative feedback (PNF, n=28) and multicomponent interventions (n=8). Twelve studies with PNF reported reductions in alcohol use 3 months after the intervention. Multicomponent interventions reduced alcohol use and related consequences; most studies focused on the website AlcoholEdu, which reduced alcohol consumption and the consequences of alcohol use 6 months after the intervention. Conclusions FNP and the AlcoholEdu website, the most frequently evaluated interventions among the selected studies, were effective in reducing alcohol use in university students. These strategies are an alternative to increase the access of university students to interventions aimed at limiting alcohol use.

RESUMEN Objetivo Determinar las principales modalidades de intervención por Internet para limitar el consumo de alcohol de los estudiantes universitarios, y describir los efectos de cada una en el consumo de alcohol y sus consecuencias. Método Esta es una revisión sistemática hecha con artículos disponibles en las bases PubMed, PsycINFO y SciELO. Se utilizaron como términos de búsqueda alcohol drinking AND Internet, sin restricción de fecha ni de idioma. Los criterios de inclusión fueron los siguientes: estudio aleatorizado controlado con una muestra de estudiantes universitarios, enfoque en intervenciones por Internet y evaluación de los efectos de esas intervenciones en el consumo de alcohol o sus consecuencias. Resultados El análisis de 36 artículos permitió encontrar dos modalidades principales de intervención por Internet, a saber, intervenciones basadas en retroalimentación normativa personalizada (n=28) e intervenciones multicomponentes (n=8). En doce estudios con retroalimentación normativa personalizada se observó una reducción del consumo de alcohol tres meses después de la intervención. Las intervenciones multicomponentes redujeron el consumo de alcohol y sus consecuencias. La intervención más evaluada fue el sitio AlcoholEdu, que disminuyó el consumo de alcohol y sus consecuencias seis meses después de realizarla. Conclusiones La retroalimentación normativa personalizada y el sitio AlcoholEdu fueron las intervenciones más evaluadas en los estudios seleccionados y demostraron ser eficaces para reducir el consumo de alcohol en los estudiantes universitarios. Esas estrategias ofrecen una alternativa para ampliar el acceso de los estudiantes a intervenciones destinadas a limitar el consumo de alcohol.