Contextual factors associated with high‐intensity drinking events among young adults: A qualitative inquiry

Abstract

Background Much of the prior research addressing risky drinking among young adults has focused on heavy episodic drinking (4+/5+ drinks in a single sitting for females/males). However, 1 in 3 young adults engaged in past‐year high‐intensity drinking (HID, 8+/10+ drinks in a single sitting for females/males). Consuming such large amounts of alcohol is associated with serious acute consequences (e.g., severe injury, overdose) and the development of alcohol use disorder. This qualitative study aimed to gain an in‐depth understanding of contextual influences on HID from drinkers’ perspectives. Methods We conducted individual interviews of 28 young adults (57% female, aged 20 to 25 years old) who engage in HID to assess the role of context in the prediction of HID (relative to non‐HID events). Two authors coded each interview following a structured codebook and thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data. Results Based on identified themes, factors that may increase HID likelihood include being in larger groups or in social contexts where others are drinking heavily, having close relationships with others who are present, on special occasions, when feeling safe, being comfortable in a given situation, and experiencing intense affective states (especially positive ones). Noted deterrents for HID included friends’ extreme intoxication, perceptions that heavy drinking is less acceptable in certain contexts (i.e., at work, family events) or among others present, cost/financial constraints, next‐day responsibilities, and needing to drive. Conclusions Young adults identified a number of social and psychological factors that they perceived influenced their likelihood of engaging in HID. However, they also generated a number of factors that constrained this style of drinking. Understanding the contexts in which HID is most likely to occur will inform interventions that aim to reduce this high‐risk behavior.

Insights into the context of simultaneous alcohol and cannabis use among young adults.

“…In recent qualitative work examining heavy drinking contexts of young adults, a number of similarities can be seen between heavy drinking and simultaneous use (Merrill et al, 2021). Similar to our finding about contexts influencing simultaneous use, young adults reported being more likely to drink heavily in situations where they felt safe and comfortable, around people they had a close relationship with, and around others who were also engaging in similar substance use.…”

Role of Impulsivity and Emotion Dysregulation Dimensions on Core Characteristics of Binge Drinking among University Students

“…A good emotional awareness was shown as facilitating better ability to navigate complex social situations and enjoy relationships (Lane & Smith, 2021). As social relationships with peers have been shown to play a fundamental role in high intensity drinking (Merrill et al, 2021), it is conceivable that good emotional awareness is associated with a wider social circle and increased consumption opportunities. We could therefore hypothesize that this emotion regulation ability is a risk factor of drunkenness episodes, particularly if it is combined with high levels of impulsivity.…”

Protective strategies and motivations to control drinking among Brazilian college students: A qualitative study

“…Most of the studies in this area employed epidemiological methodologies and questionnaires with closed questions, which limit the types of possible answers. According to Merrill et al (2021) (32), qualitative methods can elucidate why certain drinking behaviors occur from a drinker's perspective, helping to understand the associated internal and external factors. These authors, as have many others, studied the predictors of high intensity drinking (HID) episodes in samples of individuals with regular high alcohol consumption, classi ed either as at-risk of dependence or already dependent.…”