Dangerous drinking on college campuses in the United States continues to threaten the health and wellbeing of undergraduates.  Alcohol consumption in university students has been associated with a litany of physiological and psychological harms in addition to academic, social, and legal consequences.  It is often assumed that students “grow out of” their college drinking habits after graduating, but little research exists concerning this transition.  When designing interventions to treat alcohol use in at-risk students, it is important to determine the motivating factors and possible deterrents individuals may have regarding the behavior, in addition to how these factors may change over time.  This longitudinal study examines how alcohol consequences may modify drinking behaviors of college students as they enter adulthood.   

The study’s sample consists of 420 undergraduate students who were followed over the course of 15 years (1995-2010).  Participants completed surveys during the age wave “bands” of 18-22 (college-aged), 23-28 (young adult), and 29-34-years old (adult), rendering a total of three measurement waves for each participant over the duration of the study.  The following variables were included in the wave assessment: demographics, family history of alcohol use disorder (via DSM-III), alcohol use, negative alcohol consequences (via Young Adult Alcohol Problems Screening Test), and alcohol expectancies.  The data was analyzed using structural equation modelling.   

Results of the study found young adult negative alcohol consequences to be positively associated with heavy drinking in adulthood.  Negative alcohol expectancies during college age(s) were associated with decreased young adult drinking and decreased negative consequences in adulthood.  The contrary, increased alcohol positive expectancies during college being associated with heavier young adult drinking and greater adult negative consequences, was also found to be supported.   

Takeaway: alcohol expectancies in college-aged individuals may help predict future drinking behaviors and experiences of consequences.

Waddell JT, Sternberg A, Grimm KJ, Chassin L. Do Alcohol Consequences Serve as Teachable Moments? A Test of Between- and Within-Person Reciprocal Effects From College Age to Adulthood. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2021;82(5):647-658. doi:10.15288/jsad.2021.82.647