The relationship between drinking control strategies and college student alcohol use.

Abstract

Interventions designed to reduce heavy drinking among college students often contain suggestions for drinking control strategies. However, little is known about the relationship of the use of these strategies to alcohol consumption. This study developed a measure of drinking control strategies and investigated its psychometric properties in a sample of 250 college drinkers. Strategies clustered into three factors: selective avoidance of heavy drinking activities/situations, strategies used while drinking, and alternatives to drinking. These three types of strategies were independently associated with alcohol use; however, the first and last types were negatively associated with alcohol consumption, whereas the second type was positively associated with alcohol use. The findings from this study suggest that type of strategy recommended may be important when the goal is alcohol reduction. Keywordsdrinking control strategies; alcohol use; college students Surveys of drinking in national samples of college campuses revealed that between 34 to 44% of students met criteria for heavy drinking (Douglas et al., 1997;Wechsler et al., 2002). Heavy drinking can lead to health risks (e.g., blackouts, personal injuries, physical illnesses, and unprotected sexual activity), in addition to academic, interpersonal, and legal problems (Hingson, Heeren, Winter, & Wechsler, 2005;Perkins, 2002;Aertgeerts & Buntinx, 2002). Due to the substantial risks associated with heavy college drinking, innovative risk reduction strategies are needed. Effective intervention programs have combined information, normative feedback and values clarification within a context of teaching college students skills to moderate risky drinking behaviors (Larimer & Cronce, 2002).Skills-based interventions are designed to modify high risk drinking behaviors in two ways: (a) teaching how to cope with life stresses in ways other than alcohol use (e.g., building alternative stress management, relaxation, and social skills), and (b) teaching alcohol-specific harm reduction skills (e.g., drinking in ways to avoid extreme intoxication and negative consequences). These intervention components evolved from self-management approaches for controlled drinking. For example, Miller and Muñoz (2005) developed a manual titled Controlling Your Drinking which outlines self-control strategies in three domains: while you drink, before you drink, and instead of drinking. The 'while you drink' strategies focus on slowing down drinking. The 'before you drink' strategies focus on teaching ways to gain control over drinking by understanding and changing antecedents that lead to heavy drinking. Lastly, the 'instead of drinking' strategies focus on gaining understanding of the reinforcers of alcohol use and teaching alternate ways to achieve these reinforcing effects without alcohol use.Many skills-based interventions designed for college students offer a menu of strategies or tips to students to help them moderate their drinking. However, little is known about the relationship...

Alcohol Expectancies and Alcohol Outcomes: Effects of the Use of Protective Behavioral Strategies

“…First, even though the PBSS has been widely used among young adults, only one study has used this measure among younger participants (Grazioli et al, 2015). Further, consistent with most PBS research, we used the narrow definition of PBS and did not assess the use of strategies to avoid drinking (Sugarman & Carey, 2007). Future research exploring the use of strategies to avoid drinking and further validating the PBSS on younger populations is needed.…”

“…PBS are strategies that individuals can use to reduce the negative consequences associated with their drinking (Martens et al, 2005). Although some researchers use a broad definition of PBS including strategies to avoid drinking (Sugarman & Carey, 2007), researchers commonly use a narrower definition referring to strategies used immediately before, during, and after drinking (Martens et al, 2007b;Pearson, 2013). Students commonly use PBS (Haines et al, 2006), yet degrees of use vary across drinking groups, with moderate drinkers being more likely to use PBS than light and heavy drinkers (i.e., curvilinear effect; Sugarman & Carey, 2007;Walters et al, 2007).…”

“…Although some researchers use a broad definition of PBS including strategies to avoid drinking (Sugarman & Carey, 2007), researchers commonly use a narrower definition referring to strategies used immediately before, during, and after drinking (Martens et al, 2007b;Pearson, 2013). Students commonly use PBS (Haines et al, 2006), yet degrees of use vary across drinking groups, with moderate drinkers being more likely to use PBS than light and heavy drinkers (i.e., curvilinear effect; Sugarman & Carey, 2007;Walters et al, 2007). Previous research in college samples has established a negative cross-sectional relationship between the use of PBS and alcohol outcomes (e.g., Araas & Adams, 2008;Benton et al, 2004;Borden et al, 2011;Martens et al, 2007a).…”

Ukrepi Za Zmanjšanje Tveganega In Škodljivega Pitja Alkohola V Populaciji Študentov: Sistematični Pregled Literature / Measures to Reduce Risky and Heavy Alcohol Drinking in the Population of Students: A Systematic Literature Review

“…si (39). Pomembna je izbira strategije, saj na primer le povečanje preventivnih strategij (počasno pitje, uživanje hrane pred pitjem) ne prispeva k zmanjšanju pitja (24,29). Nekateri kratki ukrepi, na primer motivacijski intervju v majhni skupini, gledališke predstave kolegov in alkoholni izobraževalni programi za tvegane pivce, se niso izkazali za uspešne pri spremembi vedenja (21,25), čeprav se poveča zavedanje o zdravstvenih problemih, povezanih z rabo alkohola.…”

“…Presečna pregledna raziskava/Cross-sectional study (29) Pregled učinkov strategij za nadzor porabe alkohola na pitje alkohola (izogibanje pivskim igricam, pitje »na eks«, izogibanje popivanju, uporaba strategij med pitjem ali nepitje)/An overview of the effects of strategies to control the consumption of alcohol on alcohol drinking (avoiding drinking games, avoiding heavy drinking, use of strategies during drinking or not drinking).…”