Friend or foe: Personal use and friends' use of protective behavioral strategies and spring break drinking

Abstract

The present study examined associations between use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) by college students and their friends and drinking-related outcomes during Spring Break (SB). Moreover, this study examined the influence of friends’ own PBS use on participants’ PBS use during SB. Participants included college students (N = 694) and their nominated friends (N = 131) who were part of a larger study of SB drinking. Data were collected via web-based surveys that participants and friends took after SB, which assessed SB PBS, drinking, and related negative consequences. Results indicated that higher levels of Serious Harm Reduction (SHR) strategies and Limiting/Stopping (LS) strategies were associated with increased consumption, higher likelihood of experiencing any consequences, and an increased number of consequences. A different pattern emerged for Manner of Drinking (MD) strategy use; participants utilizing higher levels of MD strategies drank less and had fewer consequences. LS and MD strategies used by the participant’s friends appeared to have less of an impact on the participant’s drinking outcomes. However, greater friends’ use of SHR strategies was associated with increased alcohol use by the participant, but not with consequences. Greater friends’ use of SHR strategies was associated with greater SHR strategy use by the participant. Friends’ LS and MD strategies were not associated with participant drinking, consequences, or PBS. These findings highlight the potential utility of interventions that focus on drinking behaviors on specific high-risk occasions for those at risk as well as for their friends.

A daily diary examination of caffeine mixed with alcohol among college students.

“…Fourth, this study used the BYAACQ to measure daily negative consequences from drinking. Although the BYAACQ is an established measure and has been used to detect short-term alcohol-related problems in prior research (e.g., Lewis, Sheng, Geisner, Rhew, Patrick, & Lee, 2015; Pearson, D’Lima, & Kelley, 2013), this measure has not been standardized for use in a daily diary study. Although certain types of problems were detected on a daily level (50.9% of days involved at least one alcohol-related problem), a gold-standard measure is needed as many researchers move toward studying health behavior using daily or momentary assessments.…”

Moving alcohol prevention research forward—Part I: introducing a complex systems paradigm

“…Additionally, college students who employ serious harm reduction (SHR) and limiting/stopping (LS) protective behavioral strategies during drinking episodes actually drink in greater quantities and experience more alcohol‐related consequences. Moreover, friends’ use of SHR is also associated with increased alcohol consumption .…”

“…These efforts have demonstrated small effects on drinking quantity, frequency and experienced consequences, with minimal impact on high‐risk or heavy drinkers . Additionally, in certain cases these approaches have actually produced adverse consequences . It is our contention that alcohol prevention programming has been partially ineffective because researchers, policymakers and practitioners have overlooked the dynamically complex and ecological nature of drinking.…”

Perceived vulnerability moderates the relations between the use of protective behavioral strategies and alcohol use and consequences among high-risk young adults

“…Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies demonstrate that greater use of LS and MOD strategies are associated with less alcohol use and fewer consequences among college students (Frank, Thake, & Davis, 2012; Napper, Kenney, Lac, Lewis, & LaBrie, 2014; Pearson, 2013). However, three studies found that on days which participants reported above average increases of LS and SHR strategies (but not MOD), they also experienced greater drinking and consequences that day (Lewis et al, 2012, 2015; Pearson, D’Lima, & Kelley, 2013). While PBS are related to reduced alcohol use and consequences, young adults use of PBS is mixed (Nguyen, Walters, Wyatt, & DeJong, 2011; Ray, Stapleton, Turrisi, & Philion, 2012).…”