Recent studies report that alcohol-related injuries are the leading cause of death among young adults. Over 60% of university students reported drinking alcohol in the last month, and 40% reported they drank weekly. 10% of students stated alcohol had caused social, legal, financial, and health problems at least once. In the past decade, colleges and universities have made efforts to bring awareness to alcohol-related negative consequences (ARNC), but they continue to be challenging. This study explores the connection between adverse childhood experience (ACE) and ARNC among college student drinkers.
The study took place 2018 in California and Minnesota and consisted of 6.677 students. The universities’ health service offices emailed students to participate in online surveys. All students were between the ages of 18 and 27 and currently using alcohol. 67% of the sample was male, and 60% identified as non-Hispanic White. This study was one of the first of its kind. It explored the connection between ACE and ARNC across drinking frequency and binge drinking among a large, diverse cross-section. Nearly 30% of the students reported that while binge drinking, they did regrettable behaviors. The studies hypothesize that those that experienced ACE also experienced more types of ARNC.
The data showed that child maltreatment (physical, sexual, or verbal abuse), parent alcohol and substance use lead to students experiencing more alcohol-related negative consequences than other students. The study did not test for genetic markers but mentions that parents’ substance or alcohol use shows a possibility of a genetic vulnerability for students. Further research is still needed to fully explain the relationship between ACE and ARNC, but this study showed how easily health behaviors can be adopted from childhood and carried on throughout life and the need to effectively address the effect of ACE.
Takeaway: Evidence shows that individuals who experience adverse childhood experiences tend to experience more types of alcohol-related negative consequences when in college.