Unplanned Heavy Episodic and High-Intensity Drinking: Daily-Level Associations With Mood, Context, and Negative Consequences

Abstract

Underestimating how much one will drink has been associated with greater alcohol-related consequences. Elevated mood or drinking context may relate to drinking more than planned (or intended) among college students. The aims of the current study were to test (a) whether positive and negative mood and contextual factors on a given day were associated with the likelihood of unplanned heavy drinking (defined as unplanned heavy episodic or high-intensity drinking), and (b) whether days with unplanned heavy drinking were associated with more negative consequences. Method: The analytic sample included 352 college students (53.4% female; 71.3% non-Hispanic White) who completed daily assessments via automated telephone interviews. Multilevel models were used to test predictors of unplanned heavy drinking (Aim 1) and predictors of consequences (Aim 2). Results: Almost a third (29.60%) of drinking days were unplanned heavy drinking days. Individuals with higher average positive mood across the sampled days had lower odds of unplanned heavy drinking. No significant associations were observed between negative mood and unplanned heavy drinking. We ekend days and days with special occasions were associated with lower odds of unplanned heavy drinking. Unplanned heavy drinking was associated with more negative consequences on that day. Conclusions: Students were frequently not able to accurately predict the amount of alcohol they would consume on that day, which conferred an increased risk of negative consequences. Interventions could incorporate strategies that help students anticipate their alcohol consumption in order to employ protective behavioral strategies in high-risk contexts.

Wearable alcohol monitors for alcohol use data collection among college students: feasibility and acceptability in a pilot study

“…consuming five or more drinks in a row) in the previous 2 weeks (Schulenberg, et al, 2019). Heavy alcohol consumption among college students has been consistently linked to adverse outcomes such as academic difficulties, injuries, and death (Fairlie et al, 2019; Hingson et al, 2017; Patrick et al, 2016). Alcohol consumption is also associated with numerous sexual risks in this population, including sexual assault victimization and perpetration (Abbey, 2011; Brown & Vanable, 2007; Cooper, 2002; Crane et al, 2016; Davis et al, 2014; Mohler-Kuo et al, 2004).…”

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

“…Research suggests that positive, but not negative, affect is associated with HED at the daily level in college students (Howard et al, 2015). Fairlie et al (2019) examined whether positive and negative affect and contextual features were associated with the likelihood of unplanned heavy drinking (i.e., crossing either the HED or HID threshold when it was not planned). They found that, on average, participants with higher average positive affect across days had lower odds of unplanned heavy drinking.…”

Oops I Drank It Again: Predictors Of Emerging Adults’ Unplanned Drinking

“…Results from Lauher et al (2020) and Fairlie et al (2019) suggest that current conceptualizations of unplanned drinking as a negative event are not supported. It is worth noting that participants who plan to heavily consume alcohol (i.e., more than 5+ drinks as seen in binge drinking) may be at more risk than originally thought.…”

“…This study also used a daily diary design but focused on daily-level factors (i.e., mood, context) that influenced unplanned drinking. Fairlie et al (2019) found that a third of participants' drinking during the study were heavy-unplanned drinking days. They also found that individuals with positive moods across the 10-day period were less likely to engage in heavy unplanned drinking.…”

“…In the current study, only between-participant comparisons were considered (e.g., participant A vs. participant B). Fairlie et al (2019) also published their study, after the proposal of the current study, on unplanned heavy episodic drinking and high intensity drinking in a college student population.…”